LOS ANGELES, January 8, 2020— The Los Angeles Conservancy celebrates the 1970s’ golden anniversary with The ‘70s Turn 50, a yearlong, countywide initiative to raise awareness and educate the public about 1970s architectural and cultural heritage sites in Los Angeles. The Conservancy kicks off the festivities on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at 6 p.m. with a tour and lecture, The ‘70s Turn 50: Architecture from a Decade of Change, at the 1976 Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites--one of L.A.’s most iconic 1970s buildings! Tickets are now on sale at the Conservancy’s newest microsite, Curating the City: The ‘70s Turn 50.

The 1970s changed the urban, environmental, and cultural landscape in L.A. County. New materials, technology, and schools of architecture pushed the boundaries of built design. Civil rights movements pushed for equity and change, as two burgeoning trends—sustainability and preservation—transformed Southern California and the country.

“In L.A. County, structures from the 1970s face a particular threat,” says Sarah Lann, Director of Education at the L.A. Conservancy. “Their age, materials, and the public’s lack of enthusiasm for these resources puts them at risk for alterations or demolition. Our ‘70s Turn 50 initiative shines a light on the spectacular and innovative resources that defined Los Angeles in the Late-Modern era before it is too late.”

Starting this January, the Conservancy will explore not only the architecture of the 1970s, but also the decade’s social movements, pop culture influences, and more through a rotating tour and discussion series at some of L.A.’s most exceptional 1970s buildings. Additional walking and bus tours, an interactive traveling exhibit, and other partner events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Partner organizations participating in The ‘70s Turn 50 initiative include the American Institute of Architects, Los Angeles; California Preservation Foundation; Docomomo US; the Fashion Institute of Interior Design & Merchandising; the Los Angeles Public Library; Pacific Design Center; and Pasadena Heritage. Additional partners will be announced throughout 2020.

About the Los Angeles Conservancy
The Los Angeles Conservancy is a nonprofit membership organization that works through education and advocacy to recognize, preserve, and revitalize the historic architectural and cultural resources of Los Angeles County. What began as a volunteer group in 1978 now has the largest membership of any local preservation organization in the U.S.

Media Contact
Lisett B. Chavarela
(213) 430-4214
lchavarela@laconservancy.org