Shedding light on the Maxfield Building

Preservation and adaptive reuse of the
1925 Maxfield Building in Downtown Los Angeles

Located at 819 Santee Street, the Maxfield Building was once a prominent high-rise in the early twentieth century Garment District. Today, it stands as an excellent example of a historic industrial daylight factory and is locally significant for its association with the development of Los Angeles's garment industry.

Maxfield Building, historic photograph.

(USC Digital Library, 1931)

Maxfield Building, before rehabilitation.

(Chattel, 2012)

Maxfield Building, after rehabilitation.

(Chattel, 2017)

Maxfield Building facade, historic photograph.

(Bank of America Historical Collection, 1940-1941)

Maxfield Building facade, before rehabilitation.

(Chattel, 2012)

Maxfield Building facade, after rehabilitation.

(Chattel, 2017)

Maxfield Building, historic photograph.

(California Historical Society Collection, USC Digital Library, 1931) 

Maxfield Building, before rehabilitation.

(Chattel, 2013)

Maxfield Building, after rehabilitation.

(Chattel, 2017)

The Maxfield Building was designated a City of Los Angeles's Historic-Cultural Monument #1092 in August of 2015, and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in September of 2017. We worked closely with property owner Urban Foresight, LLC and the project has been certified for Investment Tax Credits. Our favorite contributions to the Maxfield Building were advising on approaches to the rooftop sign, interior doors, and steel sash windows.

Rooftop sign before rehabilitation.

Maxfield Building after rehabilitation.

Rooftop sign after rehabilitation.

Rooftop sign after rehabilitation.

Rooftop sign after rehabilitation.

Rooftop sign after rehabilitation, at night.

Rehabilitation of the historic rooftop sign. Historically, the Maxfield Building's rooftop sign was a multi-story open panel rooftop sign that read "Maxfield Building" and "819 Santee". Each letter electrified by dozens of individual incandescent light bulbs, the historic sign faced east toward the Southern Pacific Railway station where lone travelers and passersby exiting the train at Alameda Street could easily identify it. Decades of neglect later, however, the historic sign was left nearly crumbling, deteriorated, and unidentifiable. Today, the rooftop sign stands proud and visible, with individual LED light bulbs to match the historic sign's light bulbs. Now, the rehabilitated rooftop sign pays homage to its past.

Original 1925 office door with transom, before rehabilitation.

Original 1925 office door with transom, before rehabilitation.

Interior wood doors from corridor, after rehabilitation.

Compatible interpretation of original office doors.

Interior wood door at residential unit, after rehabilitation.

Compatible interpretation of original office doors.

Interior wood door to unit, after rehabilitation.

Compatible interpretation of original office doors.

Interior wood doors, after rehabilitation.

View from inside unit, metal frame visible.

Original wood door at utility room.

Original wood door at utility room.

Rehabilitation of historic interior wood doors. When working with the National Park Service, we were asked to recreate wood interior doors inspired in form by the historic doors simply because there were not enough original doors left to salvage. The result? All residential unit doors are compatible interpretations of originals, complete with transoms and side lights. Through trial-and-error, we selected a skilled painter to faux paint the metal door frames to match the new wood doors.

Rehabilitated daylight windows.

View from common area inside residential unit.

Rehabilitated daylight windows.

View from inside bedroom of residential unit.

Rehabilitated daylight window, detail.

Rehabilitated daylight windows.

View from inside common area of another residential unit.

Rehabilitated daylight window.

View from inside bedroom of another residential unit.

Rehabilitated daylight windows.

Alternative view from common area of residential unit.

Rehabilitated arched daylight window, detail.

Exterior facade of Maxfield Building.

View of rehabilitated daylight windows.

Rehabilitation of historic daylight windows. One of the most rewarding elements of this project was rehabilitation of the huge daylight windows. As a daylight factory, the industrial steel sash windows allowed as much light into the interior as possible. This natural light and ventilation maximized efficiency of the workers. While all the frames and sash are original, the glazing was replaced to reduce heat gain and provide a pleasant environment for today's residents.

Vegas—and Chattel—Insider's Look

VEGAS magazine has featured two of our team's projects—Mob Museum and Neon Museum—in select print and digital editions this year. Check out their insider spotlights below!

Summer 2017 issue. Mob Museum and Neon Museum among four other Vegas "relics" worth saving—and seeing:

Late Spring 2017 issue. Mob Museum on a visual spread featured on 'The Source,' a selective list of insider recommendations on where to eat, drink, and play in Las Vegas:

Spring 2017 issue. Neon Museum recommended by a Vegas local, featured on 'The Source':

Since a few Vegas insiders thought it worthwhile to highlight two of our favorite Vegas projects, we wanted to share some of Chattel's own insider shots of the Mob Museum and Neon Museum—in all their glowing, night-time glory:

Mob Museum, exterior

View facing building entrance. (Chattel, 2016)

Mob Museum, interior

View of interior exhibit space. (Chattel, 2016)

Neon Museum, exterior

View facing building entrance and front lobby. (Chattel, 2017)

Neon Museum, interior

View of "neon boneyard". (Chattel, 2017)

(You can read more about Chattel's involvement with the Neon Museum here and here!)

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Kodak Moments in Rehabilitation

Chattel recently received national attention for our consulting work in historic preservation and expertise in restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings. Check out the resources below provided by the National Park Service (NPS) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP)!

Update to Preservation Brief 41:
The Seismic Retrofit of Historic Buildings

Chattel's photo (pictured above) was cited by the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior in a 2016 update to Preservation Brief 41: The Seismic Retrofit of Historic Buildings. A Preservation Brief provides guidance to property owners, contractors, and consultants for preserving, rehabilitating, and restoring historic buildings. Chattel's work on the Maxfield Building was used as an example of responsible design utilizing steel-frame reinforcement specific to seismic deficiency remediation for a concrete-frame building.

You can download the Brief here.

Section 106 Success Story:
West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs
(West LA VA) Medical Center

Chattel's work on the rehabilitation and seismic retrofit of Building 209 at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center (West LA VA) Campus was featured as one of a few select Section 106 Success Stories listed by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). Section 106 is a federal process under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended (NHPA) that protects historic resources by "requiring federal agencies to consider the effects on historic properties of any project they carry out or which receives federal financial assistance, permits or approvals, and provide the ACHP an opportunity to comment on these projects prior to making a final decision." (ACHP, 2016).

The Success Story--which can be downloaded here--describes the Section 106 review process and the unique story behind Building 209's rehabilitation. You can read more about the West LA VA project here, as well as the many awards it has garnered.

Keep up with Chattel by following our blog and the links below!

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May in Review: Work and Play

Last month’s LA Conservancy Awards Luncheon wasn’t the only fun we had while on the job. We also attended the California Preservation Foundation (CPF) Conference in Pasadena, and spent some QT (quality time) team building at BLVD Kitchen!

CALIFORNIA PRESERVATION FOUNDATION CONFERENCE

From May 10th through 13th, we participated in the CPF Conference: Preservation at the Forefront. While there, we hosted and presented at a workshop, went on a historic walking tour, and sponsored the much anticipated Three-Minute Success Stories event.

On the 10th, Senior Associate Nels Youngborg was a panelist at the workshop “Incentives for Historic Properties: A Training for REALTORS,” providing information on how to gain access to financial incentives for historic preservation. Events were held at the Gamble House and the 1910 Hindry House in Pasadena. Chattel sponsored and presented at the much-anticipated Three-Minute Success Stories event, which included various performances. This event took place within the historic Stuart Pharmaceutical Building, a rehabilitation and adaptive reuse project in which we served as historic preservation-consultants. Read more about our involvement with the Stuart Building here.

BLVD KITCHEN

As a well-deserved break earlier in the month, the Chattel team got our hands dirty with some good ol’ fashioned homecooking at BLVD Kitchen in Sherman Oaks. We are quite the multi-talented crew!

Stay up to date with our latest happenings by following our blog (and the links below)!

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Chattel's Recent Awards

....And we're back. So much has happened during our short blogging hiatus, but we first want to highlight some of our recent recognition for some of our beloved past projects.

Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Awards

The project team behind SurveyLA upon receiving the Chairman’s Award at the 2017 Preservation Awards hosted by the Los Angeles Conservancy. Photo source: Larry Underhill.

This year’s Chairman’s Award of the 2017 Preservation Awards hosted by the Los Angeles Conservancy was presented to the project team behind SurveyLA: The Los Angeles Historic Resources Survey. Led by the City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning, and the J. Paul Getty Trust, SurveyLA consisted of a wholesome effort between public and private entities toward what’s been recognized as the “largest and most comprehensive survey ever completed by an American city.” The award was presented at the LA Conservancy’s 36th Annual Preservation Awards Luncheon earlier this month on May 3rd at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. At the luncheon, our team was recognized for our contribution in this 10-year effort which included a mix of survey work and preparing historical context statements. We wrote the Chinese American Historical Context statement, as well as the Industrial Context statement in collaboration with LSA Associates. Additionally, we participated in survey efforts for the South Los Angeles Community Plan Area. We are proud to have been involved in such a momentous endeavor!

Enjoying the LA Conservancy luncheon hosted at the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

Dorothy Wright Brick and Mortar Award

All of our hard work at the Historic Westside School in Las Vegas has finally paid off. On May 17, 2017, the City of Las Vegas Historic Preservation Commission recognized the rehabilitation of the Historic Westside School Campus with the Dorothy Wright Brick and Mortar Award. The project was further recognized for its rehabilitation efforts in the “Proclamation from the office of the Mayor” declaring the month of May as “National Preservation Month” for the City of Las Vegas. Read more about our involvement with the Historic Westside School Campus rehabilitation project here.

The Dorothy Wright Brick and Mortar Award and the Proclamation of May as National Preservation Month presented to the City of Las Vegas for the rehabilitation of the Historic Westside School Campus.

Keep your eyes peeled on here (and the links below) for more project and team updates.

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2016 Preservation Design Awards

Chattel is proud to announce that we were recently awarded two Preservation Design Awards by the California Preservation Foundation for our work on Mission Santa Barbara and Building 209 at the VA West LA. Mission Santa Barbara was selected for an award in the Preservation category. Building 209 was selected for an award in the Rehabilitation category.

The Awards ceremony was held at the Arboretum at Christ Cathedral (formerly Crystal Cathedral) in Garden Grove. 

Exterior of the Arboretum at Christ Cathedral, originally known as the Garden Grove Community Church, designed by Richard Neutra for Reverend Robert A Shuller, and completed in 1962.

Awards attendees admire and discuss the Mission Santa Barbara project poster during the cocktail hour.

Left to right: Robert Chattel, USC Heritage Conservation Program Founder Ken Breisch, former Chattel Associate Kathryn McGee, and Chattel Associate Sarah Vonesh.

Part of the Mission Santa Barbara Team, left to right: David Bolton, Executive Director of the California Missions Foundation, Brother Brian Trawick, Corporate Secretary for the Franciscan Friars of California, Tina Foss, Museum Director of Old Mission Santa Barbara, and Robert Chattel. 

Daniel Swienton (left), project manager at U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and Nicos Katsellis (right), Director of Operations and Senior Associate at Leo A Daly accept the award for VA West LA, Building 209.

Learn more about our involvement with the Santa Barbara Mission and VA West LA.

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and be a part of all of our preservation related projects, findings, travels and adventures. 

Sneak Peek of the Historic Westside School and Our Social Media Presence

We can't believe it's already August! We are especially excited about the grand opening on the 27th of the recently rehabilitated Historic Westside School in Las Vegas. The Mission Revival school was constructed in 1923 and a Ranch style annex was added in 1948. The school served predominantly Native American and African American residents of Old Town, which later became known as the Westside. Although the 1954 decision in the U.S. Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education declared that laws establishing separate schools for black and white students were unconstitutional, public education in Las Vegas remained segregated. The school closed in 1967 and was underused until now. Check out the video below to get a sneak peek of the work!

The dramatic transformation of the Historic Westside School is shown below.

We’re also proud to announce that Chattel is now on Facebook and Instagram. We recently hit 50 followers! Be sure to like/follow us to stay up to date on all of our projects and for the latest news on historic preservation work in not only Los Angeles, but all over California and the West! Follow us at the links below.

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Flashback Friday - Hillary and Historic Preservation in 1999

“One of the most powerful ways for us to imagine America’s future is to preserve what we truly value of our past—our monuments, our art and documents and historic sites will tell the story of this Nation to future generations”

— Hillary Rodham Clinton, Holiday Treasures at the White House 1999 brochure

Official White House Photograph P78676-12A 22-DEC-99 Ralph Alswang

Few may recall the origins of the Save America's Treasures program of the National Park Service. On the eve of the new millennium, then First Lady Hillary Clinton initiated a partnership between the White House Millennium Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to preserve historic resources. On December 10, 1998, Clinton visited the Breed Street Shul in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles and declared it the first official Save America's Treasures project in California. Later that same day, she did the same for the Broadway Theater and Commercial District.

In 1999, the White House planned a very special Christmas celebration and asked partners from across the nation to share their creative impressions of the best of our heritage. The Jewish Historical Society of Southern California (JHS) chose not to customize a Christmas ornament, as was the tradition, and rather commissioned Beverly Hills artist Marlene Zimmerman to create a menorah for the event. The menorah was lit by the Clintons with JHS president Steve Sass in the West Wing of the White House.

"Historic Wonder" on 2nd Street

Leslie Brand's 800 square foot Santa Monica cottage has been resurrected as the centerpiece of a four-unit condominium development at 1012 2nd Street, now on the market. Famous for developments in Glendale and San Fernando, Brand's grand estate El Miradero in the foothills of the Verdugo Mountains has served as a library for some time and was also recently updated. The designated Landmark cottage was expanded and a glass bridge connects to bedrooms in the new building. The addition is four stories in height with views of the Pacific Ocean. It was a pleasure working on this great project with Howard Laks Architects, "rehabilitating it to its former glory." Read more about the project featured in the May 13, 2016 issue of Digs magazine here.

View of the bridge connection between the Landmark cottage and new building; note how the roof of the bridge connects just under the eave, nice (in so many respects)!

More Accolades for Building 209!

In the past several weeks, the Homeless Veterans Transitional Housing at the Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Campus Building 209 has received two more awards, a national Housing Award from the American Institute of Architects in the area of Specialized Housing and a Preservation Award from the Los Angeles Conservancy. 

Chattel staff poses before the Los Angeles Conservancy Awards Luncheon at the Biltmore Hotel.

Los Angeles Conservancy Board Chair Hernan Hernandez congratulates Special Assistant to VA Secretary Robert McDonald on the Preservation Award.

Project team celebrates the Preservation Award!

Mills Act Pre-Approval Workshop 2016

“The purpose of my bill is to provide an incentive to restoring and maintaining points of historical interest in California ”

— James Mills, 1977

Last Tuesday evening, Chattel, Inc. conducted the Mills Act Pre-Approval workshop to assist applicants in understanding the priority consideration criteria, stated contract goals and rehabilitation scopes of work.  

Held at Barnsdall Park, this informational workshop was held for owners of historic homes in Los Angeles, who applied and qualify for the Mills Act, a bill introduced in part as a means to persuade property owners to preserve their historic structures.

Chattel employees check in and assist applicants before the workshop. 

Speakers from the City of Los Angeles Office of Historic Resources, Chattel, Inc. and the Los Angeles County Assessor's Office spoke on the specificities of the Mills Act Program, including the application, inspection and valuation process. 

Several questions from the applicants were answered by the panel, as well as one-on-one after the workshop concluded. 

Working with the community in fielding their questions about their historic homes is one of the many reasons we love historic preservation!!

Modern Snapshots from the Field

On December 8, 2015, Justin Greving, formerly of Chattel, Inc., was one of six presenters at the Getty Museum’s Modern Snapshots from the Field event sponsored by the Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative. Justin delivered Chattel's presentation entitled Straight out of Compton: A Late Modern Icon Gets an Energy Upgrade.  

Thanks Justin!

Our presentation begins at 41:00 - check it out: