The Desmond Tower is an Art Deco landmark built on the Miracle Mile, designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood. The first high-rise outside of Downtown Los Angeles was built in 1929 as an eleven-story ziggurat rectangle of offices that vault skyward from a wide base, a striking structure that helped set the architectural standard for Wilshire Boulevard. The historic lobby showcases patterned terrazzo and classic Art Deco detailing calling back to Mayan and Aztec imagery in the street facing frieze above the main entrance. 

The project includes complex structural and seismic upgrades, facade restoration, and general restoration to reposition this landmark for contemporary use. The existing structure has been supplemented by an internal lateral bracing system with new foundations and new fire life safety and sprinkler systems extending the service life of this cultural monument while preserving the defining historic characteristics.

Project Title: The Desmond Tower
Location: Los Angeles, California
Client: CIM Group
Size: 75,000 SF
Start Date: 2019
Completion Date: Under construction
Role: Project Architect

Civil Engineer: KPFF
MEP Engineer: Syska Hennessy Group
Structural Engineer: Andy Alexander & Associates
Preservationist: GPA Consulting