SR-402-007 (8)
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ATTACHMENT H
Letters Received Regarding the Application
Electronic version of attachment is not available for review. Document is
available for review at the City Clerk's Office and the Libraries.
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19-10-0~ lO:30A Bruce Becket &Assoc
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BAUCE BECKET AND ASSOCIlATE'S
ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS PLANNERS
1516 PONTIUS AVE SECOND FLOOR
LOS ANGELES. CALIFORNIA 90025
(310) 478-0074 FAX (310) 473-8054
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August 9, 200 1
Margot Alofsin, Chairperso~ and Members.,
Landmarks Commission of Santa Monica
City of Santa Monica
1685 Main
City of Santa Monica. CA 90405
Re: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
Designation of Historic Landmark
Dear Chairperson Alofsin and Members,
Speaking as the son of the architect Welton Becket I felt the need to write you about a
significant need to preserve meaningful architecture in our society. A1thour,h Santa
Monica has many important buildings 'of various periods, there are very few important
buildings of the f'Mly modem period around 1955 through 1960.
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium received the 1960 Merit Award for Outstanding
Desien and Plan by the Southern California Chapter of the American Institute of
Architects. The building exterior makes a simple yet bold statement as a civic landmark
which provides jdentity and association to the commooity. .
In addition. the interior of the building bas significant design elements worthy of
preservation. The interior of the auditorium is superior in acoustics design. Soon after the
Auditorium was completed in 1958 it was said that the interior acoustics were of the most
perfect and deserVed a mting higher than that of the Royal Festival Hall in London.
The multip~se building was one of the fmt ~o utilize a large bydraulic tilting platform
that allows for complete flexibility of various types of functions. The interior design was
a forerunner for the multi-purpose facilities. Its innovative flexible design provided for
many different types of functions - an auditornwn, theater, dance, tennis, trade shows,
and dining banquets., among other uses.
Ff.om an afiil>irect.S pointofview, the building makes an oveJallsimpJe - yet stroDl!
statement i the oommumty and should be preserved as an Identdiable landmark. My
father VIlaS ery !lJ1foudl of tire building Md recogruZJed the starement the bWlding made 1:0
the comm . it)'. Ai!er many years of significant contribution to the lives IOf Santa Monica
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Bruce Becket &AsSOC
BRuce BECKET AND ASSOCIATES
Landmarks Commission of Santa Monica
August 9, 2~0l
Page 2. I
this building can be renovated yet preserving its important design features. This goal can
be maintained with the addition of the building t9 Landmark Status and with proper
design ~d maintenance can continue as a lasting 'and identifiable contribution to the
people ofilie City.
c;e Becket, AI.A.,
President
BORab
Cc: Alexandra Becket
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LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY
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523 W. Sixth Street. Suite 1216 . Los Angeles, California 90014 0213/623.2489
August 13, 2001
Margaret Alofsin
Chairperson, Landmarks Commission
City of Santa MoniCa
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401-2200
August 13, 2001landrnark Commissioo Agenda Item #9B
Civic Auditorium as Potential Landmark .
Dear Ms. Alofsin:
Thank you for the opportunity to address the Commission regqrcling the nomination of the Santa
Monica Civic Auditorium as aeRy landmark. The Los AngeleS ConseMlncy, wprking to preserve
the architectural resources of Los Angel~ County, is the largest local non-profit historic pres-
ervation organization in tHe. nation with over 7200 members, many of whom reside in the City of
Santa Monica. The Conservancy is pleased to support wholeheartedly any efllil to designate
the Civic Auditorium as a landmark as we believe this building to be an important work of a
master architect, a technologically innovative bl,Jilding design, and a cultural landmark.
Welton Becket was one of. the foremost architects of his era and a pioneer in Modem design. His
portfolio of commercial and civic architecture comprise such important local icons as the Capitol
Records tower and Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, the Pan Pacific Auditorium, the Music Center,
the LAX Theme Building, and the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, to name but a few.
The Civic Auditorium stands as a tribute to the innovative design and technology of mid-century
Modem architecture. Completed in 1958, the Civic Auditorium, with its dramatic parabolic colon-
nade and distinctive screen fayade is an instantly recognizable icon of both the .city of Santa
Monica and Southern California. Its uniquely tilting hydraulic floor, the nation's largest at the
time, is a technological marvel, able to accommodate stage presentations, sporting events, and
convention exhibitions like no structure before. This flexibility of design created a multi-purpose
civic meeting place, the site-of everything from the Academy Awards to David Bowie's first North
American concert.
The Conservancy and its Modem Committee applaud the designation of the Civic Auditorium as
a landmark in the City of Santa Monica. As the city rethinks its civic center, we urge you to
protect and preserve this architectural treasure for generations to come.
Sincerely, ('
V~'Q~
Trudi Sandmeier
Preservation Advocate
Ene! Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Fact Sheet
Profile of Architect Welton Becket
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S'ANTA MONICA CIVIC AUDITORIUM - Santa Monica, California
SITE
Santa Monica Civic Center, Santa Monica, California
PROJECT
Multi-purpose, 92,200~sq.-ft. civic auditorium with se~ting
capacity for 2,75~ persons; hydraulica~ly-operated tilting
platform permits complete flexibility ~f use for all ~types
of events from concerts to basketball.
COST:
$2,449,000 (Original plans called for three architlacts to
plan the auditorium; low bid was $3,217,000 or 38% over
original estimates. Welton Becket and Associates then was
engaged to completely replan auditorium. on a str'ict budget
of $2,640,000. Pianning for the same facilities as th~ ori-
ginal architects, the low h;d came in $191,000 under tHe
budget.) .'
EXTERIORS
The dramatic facade of the auditorium highlights six 72-ft.-
high sculptured, precast concrete pylons which rise in front
of the building. The pylons are separated from the main front
wall by a suspended canopy that fronts the structure. The
front elevation features a glass wall and entrance doors below
the canopy and a specially designed grillwork of ornamental
precast concrete blocks above the canopy extending to the top
of the high roof.
INTERIORS
The inside of the auditorium is planned around a "floating
floor," two-thirds of which is hydraulically-operated; it lowers
at the stage end and rises near the rear of the house to give
an over-all difference in elevation of five feet. The entrance
lobby contains 7;SOO-sq.-ft. with CWo circular concession
stands at either end. A ticket booth, with eight outside and
inside ticket windows and a ticket office, is located at the
front of the building. There also are two lounge areas on the
main lobby floor. An upper level concourse, containing 2,200-
sq.-ft., provides access to upper level seating; the orchestra
pit, 65 ft. long and 12 ft. wide (at the center of the house),
is hydraulically oFerated and may be stopped at four positions;
stage level, flush with the tilting floor when it is in position
for stage presentations, orchestra pit elevation, and basement
level. A commdttee room is located beside the auditorium in a
wing extending east; it has a capacity of 700 persons with
dining facilities for approximately 500. Auditorium offices
are in the west wing.
SPECIAL FEATURES
To insure the optimum reverberation properties, the side and
back walls of the auditorium consist of hollow-rib perforated
panels and 2 in. glass fiber intulation. Splayed walls at the
front of the house are of unperforated metal and serve as re-
flection panels to project and reinforce sound t9 the rear.
There are nq vertical surface~ facing the stage from any direction
,COUSTICAL
CONSULTANT
Dr Vern 0 !Knudsen
lMPLETiON )ATE ,958
.hI ARD
.ward Southern Califox:t1i~ Chapter l\lA (1960
A Young Man Fr~ Seattle
An athlete, Mr. Beckef played
baseball and fQCItbaU in Seat-
tle, WashingtDn.
He was Clctiye in service clubs
and honarerries of the Univer-
sity of Washington.
Born Welton David Becket in Seattle, Wash-
ington, August 8, 1902, young Welton was drawn
to architecture early in life since both his father
and his IS-year-older brother Evro were builders.
Following graduation from Queene Anne High
School in Seattle, he entered the University of
Washington. emerging in 1927 with a degree in
architecture. This was followed by graduate study
in architecture and fine arts at the Ecole de
Beaux Arts in Fontainebleau, France. He entered
the practice of architecture as chief designer for
a Los Angeles firm in 1929, moved to Seattle two
years later to practice on his own, and returned
to Los Angeles in 1933 with classmate Walter
Wurdeman, who passed away in 1949.
Welton Becket and Associates was founded in
1949 as the succeeding firm to Wurdeman and
Becket, and during the ensuing years, the firm
grew from fewer than 50 employees to more than
500.
:t and c1;<?111 I Glenn Wallichs, president Df Capitol RIle-
,eceived international acclciim for circular CapitDI RecDrds
in tloll)'wood. Imaginative', design was created fer mCl'-
{fide-ney of operation.
With UCLA's fanner dean of medicine
Dr. Stafford L. Warren lrightl and
former assistant daan Dr. Norman
Nelson, ....'Mr. Becket and his stoff
"lanned ~a great medlcol center.
With Conrad HiltDR al the Beverly
Hillon Hate), the firm's first.
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and the
The firm's design for Colifomilil federal
Saving. In Oo~town Los Angela. was
Dne of the notion's first glcr.;s office
towers, won numerous national awards.
Practice
He Built
Lunch with Mr. Bec~el in the dining room, 0 tr..dition which neYllr ended, Is
;hown during the '.'ettrly cloys." Notabl!!';, c1ockv.'ise from M,. Becket, include
'clul SessinghClus, I se,cond from Mr. Becket I, Hcmy Widman (fifth I, Furman Myers
(sixth J, RDbert I;Iclll"l' lsecond from Mr. Beckel's riqht) , cmd Mavnard Woodard.
Mr. Beeket rel<u<as with farmer
~re$ident Dwight l;isenhower;
aclor Freeman Gosden (fa,
left I ; Dnd K. S. Adaln!!, former
,hairman of Phillips Petroleum.
With Henry J. Kaiser ~ the HawClilcm W ~rm1;y sensitive, Mr. Becket loved ~.'lWork and the
\fillage Hotel In Hanolul!!. man in1;i!nate friendships he formed with the world's
. es who, Iik~.. his ~o~lltesat the
elt." Ills travelstook~arouj.ld
undertook notal?~e COl:Ill;qi!l~Qns in
, .a, Honolulu, TokYp B()ston, l'
Kansas City, Dearborn and Dallll$, and to the
region~l offices in New York City, Houston 8Jld
Francisco. While he involved himself deeply In the
majority of the projects, many believe his deepest in-
volvement came in his own city with the Los Angeles
Music Center.
hi;vrh~~:cf:t'ili~rt6r:biifaJh~o~~ =:~:sn-J~m~~
Los Angeles office; his golf; his cl(ll.;e.. fri~~ ~~ . the LPg
Angeles Country Club and the El Dora. d.. oCoulltry Club,
and his many friends among the n:lO~Clll pictul"f? stars.
He loved work, he loved play, he loyed life. His was
a rich life, a full life, a meanhtgfullife.
WOI111, senliitive, l\:~five
. an. international archi.t~ct
with OJ deep love flOr life
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As the ~ity of Santa Monica plans an exciting future for the Civic
Center area,. it would be well advised to remember the architectural
treasures <?f Its past The Santa Monica. Civic Auditorium by Welton Becket
and Associates stands today, as it did in 1958, as a landmark achievement
of one of the greatest A{nerican architects of the twentieth century.
Welton Becket (1.902-1969) welS world
and influential force in modern architecture.
such buildings as th~ Capitol r:tecords Building and in
Hollywood, The MuSlC Center to downtown LA, and
moderne works such as the Pan Pacifie Auditorium and
Pasadena; as well as many others, clearly rank him as a leading force in
world architecture. His fututistic aesthetic synltiM>lized a new way of
thinking, and promised a future as bold and exciting as his daring designs.
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium building, completed in 1958,
marks a-highlight in Becket's use of exciting jet-age design and
technological innovation to provide a thrilling and uniquely multi-use public
space. Its dramatic parabolic colonnade and distinctive screen facade
are instantly recognizable icons of both the mid-century era and Santa
Monica itself. Its unique tilting hydraulic floor, the nation's largest at the
time, is a landmark in adaptive technology, able to accommodate stage
presentations, athletic events, and exhibitions like no structure before. This
revolutionary use of hydraulic technology to reconfigure a large
auditorium space is a direct forerunner to the retractible domes and
flexibJe seating configurations of today's modem stadiums.
For its architecture alone, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
deserves the highest possible local landmark status. But when one
considers other cultural contributions of this building to the community and
the nation, its importance becomes magnified. From hosting the Academy
Awards in the 1960's to being the site of many important concerts and
innumerable local functions, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, on
architectural and cultural merit, deserves National Register consideration.
Please officially recognize this landmark building for what it is, a civic
treasure a source of both local and national pride, and protect it for future
generatibns to enjoy. For the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium the future is
now, but the past should never be forgotten.
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Dear Landmarks Commission,
I'm writing this letter in opposition to land-marking the Santa Monica Civic
Auditorium, It is premature to look at the landmark status on this building when there
has been no decisions or attempts to tear it down or remodel it. I urge you to take no
action on this issue. By taking no action, this leaves the door open for you to look at the
project in the near future in case something comes forward at a later date. The Civic
Auditorium, ifland-marked, will shy away future possible businesses and upgrades that it
sorely needs.
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Subr
Date
To:
. ,_ FAX NO. : 310 394 6571
Civic Audtiorium landmark status. #8B, Meeting
Sunday, October 7. 2001 2:30:54 PM
k imqe rly-chris t ensen@ci.santa..monica.ca.us, rolka rt Idy
Oct. 07 2001 03:00PM Pi
of 11/8/0
Dear Kimblerly,
Please forward this on to the landmark commissioners for their consideration for Monday night's
meeting, Item 8B, as I will be unable to attend the meeting.
oppose designation of the Welton Becket designed Santa Monica Civic Auditorium as a landmark.
While, I would like to see a theater such as the Civic on the sight in our Civic Center, the present
building is antiquated not very useful as a theater,;;;tor concerts, movie showings or other
entertainments. The auditorium 'itself is very out of date and not very comfortable. The
surrounding "meeting rooms" are also pedestrian and out of date. The only good space in the whole
building is the stage and stage house.
I would like fo see the whole fOlcility updated and upgraded. I have suggested t.hat this would be a
much more appropriate venue for Santa Monica College's entertainment comple)( now proposed for
the Madison Elementary School site at 11 th and Arizona.
However, if the Civic AUditorium is landmarked, it will be much more difficult and maybe
impossible to make the kind of improvements necessary to bring it up to current standards as an
entertainment complex. Without enhancements and upgrades and substantial improvements, the
structure will continue to be a "white elephant" and a financial drain on the City.
The Civic is in the same situation as we had a couple of years ago with the Aero Theater on
Montana Avenue. We could landmark and see it close and sit empty or withdraw landmark status
and let Sundance go forward with their proposals to turn the theater into a viable property. We
withdrew our reQuest to give Sundance and Robert Redford the "room" to weave their magic.
Although Sundance has withdrawn from the project, the Aero still operates at the moment and the
property owner is looking for another firm to replace Sundance.
We will always have time to landmark the Civic Auditorium when and if it becomes more
appropriate.
SincereIY,(,
Bil! Bauer e><.
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November '12. ;;100<1
Designation AppHG..'3tlol1
1855 Main
(CivlG
you oppoft,lunlty address the
AudttonlJim as a lalfldmarlc The Los Angeles Cons.ervancy is pleased
nomination, only On of our many members who in the eJtyof
behalf of our over 7400 Los Angefes region.
to the City Landmarr, EvaluaUtll1 prepared by peR Services
all of the crileria listed In the Landmarks
structure Is an Impo.rl.aflt piece of tl1e built
site of a great deal of Ilocal arid regional
In
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it an
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