Lankershim Arts Center, also known as the Department of Water and Power Building, is an art center and historic building located at 5108 Lankershim Boulevard in the NoHo Arts District in North Hollywood, California. Originally built for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power,[1] the building has since been adapted into a performing arts and gallery space.[2] It was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1980.[3]

Lankershim Arts Center
The building in 2015
Lankershim Arts Center is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Lankershim Arts Center
Lankershim Arts Center
Location within the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Former namesDepartment of Water and Power Building
Location5108 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Coordinates34°09′47″N 118°22′23″W / 34.163°N 118.373°W / 34.163; -118.373
Public transit B Line G Line North Hollywood
OperatorCity of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
TypePerforming arts and gallery space
Capacity66 in the gallery performance space, 44 in the Black Box Theatre
Construction
Built1939
Renovated1990
Website
culture.lacity.gov/cultural-centers/lankershim-arts-center/
DesignatedJuly 14, 1980
Reference no.232
NameDepartment of Water and Power Building
ArchitectCharles S. Lee
Architectural styleStreamline Moderne

History

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The Department of Water and Power Building was designed by Charles S. Lee in the Streamline Moderne style in 1939.[2] Designed to be light and flamboyant, the building was originally a neighborhood administration office for the Department of Water and Power, and was built when the organization believed their buildings should be monumental symbols of a benevolent government role in daily life.[4]

The building was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1980[3] and it was refurbished in 1990,[1] after which it became the Lankershim Art Center, a gallery and theater space that features 493 square feet (45.8 m2) of gallery/performance space, a 367 square feet (34.1 m2) dance floor, and a 364 square feet (33.8 m2) 44-seat theater.[2] Since its conversion, the building has been home to the Road Theatre Company[5] and the Art Directors Guild’s Gallery 800.[6] The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs owns and operates the space.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Department of Water and Power Building - Lankershim Arts Center". City of Los Angeles. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Lankershim Arts Center". City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Historical Cultural Monuments List" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  4. ^ "Los Angeles citywide Historic Context Statement, Public and Private Institutional Development, Municipal Infrastructure and Services, Municipal Water and Power" (PDF). SurveyLA. August 2017.
  5. ^ "Angels Walk LA - NoHo" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. 2014.
  6. ^ "Gallery 800". Time Out (magazine). November 9, 2016.