Morgan, Walls & Clements
Encyclopedia
Morgan, Walls & Clements was an architectural firm based in Los Angeles, California
and responsible for many of the city's landmarks. Originally Morgan and Walls, with principals Octavius Morgan and John A. Walls, the firm worked in the area from before the turn of the century.
Around 1910 Morgan's son O.W. Morgan was promoted, the elder Morgan retired, and with the emergence of designer Stiles O. Clements
(1883–1966) the firm hit its stride with a series of theaters and commercial projects around MacArthur Park
. Clements often worked in Spanish Colonial revival and Mayan revival styles, but their major project was the black Art Deco
Richfield Tower
, a commanding presence in downtown until its destruction in 1969.
Clements appears to have left the firm around 1937.
Their work includes:
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and responsible for many of the city's landmarks. Originally Morgan and Walls, with principals Octavius Morgan and John A. Walls, the firm worked in the area from before the turn of the century.
Around 1910 Morgan's son O.W. Morgan was promoted, the elder Morgan retired, and with the emergence of designer Stiles O. Clements
Stiles O. Clements
Stiles Oliver Clements was a Los Angeles architect trained at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris, and a key figure in the art deco movement of 1920s Los Angeles...
(1883–1966) the firm hit its stride with a series of theaters and commercial projects around MacArthur Park
MacArthur Park
MacArthur Park is a park in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, named after General Douglas MacArthur and designated city of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #100.- Geography :...
. Clements often worked in Spanish Colonial revival and Mayan revival styles, but their major project was the black Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
Richfield Tower
Richfield Tower
Richfield Tower, also known as the Richfield Oil Company Building, was constructed between 1928 and 1929 and served as the headquarters of Richfield Oil. It was designed by Stiles O. Clements and featured a black and gold Art Deco façade. The unusual color scheme was meant to symbolize the "black...
, a commanding presence in downtown until its destruction in 1969.
Clements appears to have left the firm around 1937.
Their work includes:
- Van Nuys ApartmentsVan Nuys Apartments-History:The Van Nuys Apartments were developed by their namesake – Isaac Newton Van Nuys – in 1913 as a financial center in the heart of Los Angeles. The building was designed by the architecture firm Morgan, Walls & Clements, who designed other notable landmarks such as the Mayan Theater, El...
, Los Angeles, 1913 - The Haas BuildingThe Haas BuildingThe Haas Building is located at 219 West 7th Street, at the corner of Broadway and Seventh Street, in Historic Downtown Los Angeles, California. The building was originally owned by Abraham Haas of San Francisco; president of Haas, Baruch,CXL & PWL'S. The structure was made to be one of the finest...
, Los Angeles, 1915 - El Capitan TheatreEl Capitan TheatreEl Capitan Theatre is a fully restored movie palace at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. It is owned by Pacific Theatres and operated by the Walt Disney Company. It serves as the venue for many of Walt Disney Pictures' movie premieres...
, Los Angeles, 1926 - Belasco Theater, Los Angeles, 1926
- Mayan TheaterMayan TheaterThe Mayan Theater at 1014 South Hill Street in Los Angeles, California is a landmark former picture palace.Designed by Stiles O. Clements of Morgan, Walls & Clements and opened in August 1927, the facade of the Mayan includes stylized pre-Columbian patterns and figures designed by sculptor...
, Los Angeles, 1927 - Richfield TowerRichfield TowerRichfield Tower, also known as the Richfield Oil Company Building, was constructed between 1928 and 1929 and served as the headquarters of Richfield Oil. It was designed by Stiles O. Clements and featured a black and gold Art Deco façade. The unusual color scheme was meant to symbolize the "black...
, Los Angeles, 1929 (razed) - Adamson HouseAdamson HouseAdamson House, also known as Vaquero Hill, is a historic house and gardens in Malibu, California that has been called the "Taj Mahal of Tile" due to its extensive use of decorative ceramic tiles created by the Malibu Potteries. The house was built in 1930 for Rhoda Rindge Adamson and Merritt...
, Malibu, California, 1930 - Pellissier Building and Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, 1931
- Dominguez-Wilshire Building (5410 Wilshire Boulevard), Los Angeles, 1931
- The Adams Square Building (1100 E. Chevy Chase Dr), Glendale, 1928