Catalina Swimwear Building

Catalina Swimwear Building
The Catalina Swimwear Building
General information
Architectural style	Neoclassical architecture
Location	Downtown Los Angeles
Address	443 S San Pedro St
Country	United States
Coordinates	34°02′41″N 118°14′38″W / 34.04479°N 118.24389°W
Completed	1923
Technical details
Floor count	6
Floor area	92,538
Design and construction
Architect	William Douglas Lee

The Catalina Swimwear Building is a six-story, industrial building located in Downtown Los Angeles. The building was designed in 1923 by architect William Douglas Lee and is Lee’s first major commission as an independent architect in Los Angeles. The façade has Neoclassical features and articulation that reflect early twentieth-century architecture, more formal than typical for a building intended for manufacturing purposes. The Catalina Swimwear Building is located on the southwest corner of San Pedro and Winston Streets. The building is of reinforced concrete construction, and the upper façade is sheathed in a Flemish Bond brick pattern. Its construction is documented by City of Los Angeles Building Permit #38140, issued for a six-story building with a concrete frame on the southwest corner of San Pedro and Winston Streets.

History

It was the headquarters for Catalina Swimwear (one of the oldest clothing manufacturers in California) from 1923-1960, at which time the company moved to the City of Commerce.

Present day

The Catalina Swimwear Building, now called The Catalina, was sold in 2016 and is in the process of being renovated into 78 live/work lofts to restore its historic fabric. "Work will include removing stucco from the ground floor façade to reveal original terracotta, adding a rooftop gym and possibly putting up a sign for the Catalina Swimwear Company as a way of honoring the structure’s history."^[1]

References

1. "Toy District Building Sells for $20 Million". Los Angeles Downtown News - For Everything Downtown L.A.!. Retrieved 2016-05-17.