Wurlitzer Building | |
 The building in 2014 | |
  Location of building inLos Angeles County | |
| Location | 814 S.Broadway,Los Angeles, California |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°02′36″N118°15′18″W / 34.0434°N 118.2550°W /34.0434; -118.2550 |
| Built | 1923 |
| Architect | Walker & Eisen |
| Architectural style | Spanish Renaissance |
| Part of | Broadway Theater and Commercial District (ID79000484) |
| Designated CP | May 9, 1979[1] |
Wurlitzer Building, also known asApparel Center Building,[2]Anjac Fashion Building,[3] andHudson Building,[3] is a historic twelve-story highrise located at 814 S.Broadway in theBroadway Theater District in thehistoric core ofdowntown Los Angeles.
Wurlitzer Building, built in 1923, was designed byWalker & Eisen, the architecture firm responsible for several buildings onBroadway, including theSilverwood's andPlatt buildings.[1] This building, originally lofts on the top eight floors and offices forWurlitzer below, was billed as "the world's largest music house" upon its completion. It cost $1 million ($18.5 million in2024) and took six months to construct, and featured a concert hall that took up an entire floor. Hat and clothing manufacturers were also located in the building, and in the 1920s they caught fire several times, but since the building was made ofconcrete, the fires never spread beyond the floor they started on.[3]
The building was bought byJack Needleman in 1962 and when he died in 1999, his son embarked on a multi-million dollar restoration.[4] In 2002, the building completed a $2.47 million ($4.32 million in2024) historic preservation project,[5] and in 2007, the building was power-washed to removegrime and expose its intricateornamentation and designs.[3] In 2014, the building was awarded $20,788 ($27,611 in2024) through theBringing Back Broadway initiative to upgrade itscolumnaccent lighting.[6]
In 1979, theBroadway Theater and Commercial District was added to theNational Register of Historic Places, with this building listed as acontributing property in the district.[1]
Wurlitzer Building is made ofreinforced concrete andbrick with a multi-coloredterra cottafacade and features aSpanish Renaissance design with decorativecornice,arched windows, andbas relief. The Wurlitzer name is carved into the building, with the namesMozart andVerdi carved inmedallions beneath it.[1][2][3]
The building was built to a height of 150 feet (46 m), the maximum allowed in Los Angeles at the time of its construction.[3]