1968-2014
When it comes to 20th century corporate architecture, arguably no street corner in Los Angeles has seen as many exemplary buildings as the intersection Sixth and Flower Streets. This then and now comparison features two of them, the Richfield Oil Company Building and its successor, Atlantic Richfield Plaza.
The top photograph shows the base of the Richfield Building, completed in 1929 as the headquarters of its namesake petroleum corporation. Designed by Morgan, Walls, & Clements, the 13-story tower instantly became one of the city’s most singular buildings due to its unusual color scheme. The steel-framed structure was principally clad in black terra cotta, highlighted by thin strips of tiles fired with lustrous gold leaf. Aside from the American Radiator Building in New York, the Richfield Building appears to have been the only all black-and-gold office tower completed in the United States.
In spite of its landmark status, the Richfield Building attracted largely negative critical opinion for much of its existence. At the time of its completion, Los Angeles Times art critic Arthur Millier derided the tower’s design for its insensitivity to the region’s climate and architectural context, giving glowing praise instead to Bullock’s Wilshire. In his landmark book The Image of the City (1960), urban planner Kevin Lynch described the Richfield Building simply as “ugly.”
In 1967, shortly after the merger between Richfield and Atlantic Petroleum, plans were announced to redevelop the Richfield property with one of the largest office complexes on the West Coast. Despite some calls for the preservation of the existing building, the company countered that the 38-year-old structure had become only half-usable due to its obsolete utilities, and that its redevelopment was inevitable given the growth of Downtown Los Angeles’ office market. The top photograph, a Palmer Conner Kodachrome, shows the base of the building one week before the beginning of its demolition.
The building’s replacement, Atlantic Richfield Plaza, became one of the most ambitious construction projects in the city’s history. Between 1968 and 1971, the project leveled the entire block between between Fifth, Sixth, Flower, and Figueroa Streets, and replaced it with a pair of 52-story towers with 2.5 million square feet of office space. Designed by Albert C. Martin & Associates, the office complex is now regarded as one of Los Angeles’ defining works of high Corporate Modernism.
Now known as City National Plaza, the project is indeed significant for its comprehensive execution of Modernist urban design. The twin towers are joined by an open plaza, and the entire block sits above a cavernous subterranean garage and shopping center. From the present perspective, the towers’ dramatic effect is highlighted by their large setbacks and the abrupt widenings of Flower and Sixth Streets. The complex’s colossal scale becomes immediately apparent in comparison with the somewhat older Superior Oil Company Building (1956), just visible at the right edge of both photographs.
City National Plaza [Los Angeles Conservancy]
More images and detailed records of the Richfield Building [Library of Congress]
Sources:
1. “Crews move in to dismantle landmark Richfield building.” Los Angeles Times. 13 Nov. 1968. SG1.
2. “Giant Atlantic Richfield Plaza dominates downtown skyline.” Los Angeles Times. 1 Feb. 1971. G8.
3. Hebert, Ray. “Admirers would save 1929 Richfield Building.” Los Angeles Times. 18 Aug. 1967. A6.
4. Hebert, Ray. “Plaza complex slated for Richfield block.” Los Angeles Times. 9 Mar. 1967. B1.
5. Lynch, Kevin. The Image of the City. 1960. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
6. Millier, Arthur. “Building reflects region.” Los Angeles Times. 20 Jun. 1929. 19.
7. “Plans revealed for 52-story shopping, office twin towers.” Los Angeles Times. 19 Sep. 1968. B1.
8. “Scientists aid architects.” Los Angeles Times. 14 Jul. 1929. D2.
Original photo: Conner, Palmer. “Last day of Richfield Building’s entrance.” 1968. Palmer Conner Collection of Color Slides of Los Angeles. Huntington Digital Library. Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. http://cdm16003.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15150coll2/id/7690
urban diachrony 
Mr. Hsu, Excellent story! I have latte at the Starbucks on the lower level whenever I am in DTLA. Many years ago, a friend took me to lunch in the executive restaurant on the 51st floor of what at the time was the Bank of America (south) tower. It was such a clear day that we could see Catalina Island in the distance as we ate.
Thank you! That must have been quite a treat to dine on the 51st floor.
It’s odd, I remember the ARCO Towers going up, but I don’t remember the Richfield Building being there beforehand (maybe because I was only 6 years old). I’ve only recently come to know the Richfield Building through pictures and articles. I worked in the north tower of the ARCO Plaza for a number of years in the early part of the 2000s. We were on the 35th floor and occupied most of it, so there were spectacular views all around. This was before they renovated the underground shopping complex, which was like a little trip back in time (the tile work along was worth the price of admission).
I’d always heard that the towers were the first buildings in L.A. to “break the earthquake code” but I’ve never found anything to verify that. Do you know if it’s true?
As usual, another great piece. I’m always impressed at how you pack so much relevant information in such a concise and readable format.