The Haas Building
Encyclopedia
The 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 and most modern buildings of the time. The building was constructed in the year 1915, built with the latest steel frame and absolutely fireproof
. Architectural firm Morgan, Walls & Clements
designed this 12-story terra cotta
business structure attractively facing the street with a frontage of 55 feet (16.8 m) on Broadway by 150 feet (45.7 m) on Seventh. The building was 50 by 75 feet (22.9 m) on the ground floor as well as the basement. The Haas Building was completed early 1915.
The interior woodwork was made in solid mahogany
; the corridors were floored with marble with seven-foot marble wainscoting. The floor, walls and ceiling of the lobby were also made with marble
. Including the three high-speed elevators that were installed, fixtures and interiors were said to have cost approximately $100,000.
The building had been given a complete makeover in the 1970s, with the classic exterior lost to brown metal panels. While much of the exterior brick
and detail work was removed, the pieces around the entryway
survived, though they were heavily damaged.
During December 1915, the Bank of Italy
secured a 25-year lease on the ground floor and the basement of the building. J.H. Skinner, Vice-President, arranged the movement of location and left San Francisco the next day to report the situation to the directorate. 6550 feet (1,996.4 m) of space was allocated on the ground floor of the building. Safe deposit and coin vaults were kept in the basement, while further space could be secured by the construction of the mezzanine floor.
W J Pearson & Co. occupied a large part of the 3rd floor of Haas Building. It was an excellent place to diagnose financial conditions in and around Los Angeles because of the great number of meetings there between buyers and sellers of realty, leaser and lessees.
The other 11 stories consisted of 225 offices, each with direct and alternating current attachments- compressed air, gas, water and extra sewer outlet.
Other Major occupants of The Haas Building:
The Haas Building has undergone a complete remodel and will have 68 live/work lofts for lease. In addition the top three floors of The Haas Building will be the home of Loft Seven, a multi-functional private space. The 25000 square feet (2,322.6 m²) space has the feel of a modern boutique hotel with touches of its illustrious 94-year history throughout. Loft Seven is scheduled to launch in 2009.
Fireproof
-Track List for Original 2002 Release:# "Fireproof" – 3:46# "Just 2 Get By" – 4:17# "Echelon" – 3:25# "Stay Up" – 3:40# "Behind Closed Doors" – 2:55# "Epidemic" – 3:14# "Hindsight" – 2:57# "Light at My Feet" – 3:28# "A Shame" – 3:17...
. Architectural firm Morgan, Walls & Clements
Morgan, Walls & Clements
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...
designed this 12-story terra cotta
Terra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
business structure attractively facing the street with a frontage of 55 feet (16.8 m) on Broadway by 150 feet (45.7 m) on Seventh. The building was 50 by 75 feet (22.9 m) on the ground floor as well as the basement. The Haas Building was completed early 1915.
The interior woodwork was made in solid mahogany
Mahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
; the corridors were floored with marble with seven-foot marble wainscoting. The floor, walls and ceiling of the lobby were also made with marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
. Including the three high-speed elevators that were installed, fixtures and interiors were said to have cost approximately $100,000.
The building had been given a complete makeover in the 1970s, with the classic exterior lost to brown metal panels. While much of the exterior brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
and detail work was removed, the pieces around the entryway
Entryway
An entryway is a hall that is generally located at the front entrance of a house. An entryway often has a coat closet, and usually has linoleum or tile flooring rather than carpet, making it an easy-to-clean transition space between the outdoor and indoor areas...
survived, though they were heavily damaged.
Tenants
During December 1915, the Bank of Italy
Bank of Italy
Bank of Italy may refer to either :*Banca d'Italia is the central bank of Italy.*Bank of Italy was a bank established in San Francisco, California and the forerunner of Bank of America....
secured a 25-year lease on the ground floor and the basement of the building. J.H. Skinner, Vice-President, arranged the movement of location and left San Francisco the next day to report the situation to the directorate. 6550 feet (1,996.4 m) of space was allocated on the ground floor of the building. Safe deposit and coin vaults were kept in the basement, while further space could be secured by the construction of the mezzanine floor.
W J Pearson & Co. occupied a large part of the 3rd floor of Haas Building. It was an excellent place to diagnose financial conditions in and around Los Angeles because of the great number of meetings there between buyers and sellers of realty, leaser and lessees.
The other 11 stories consisted of 225 offices, each with direct and alternating current attachments- compressed air, gas, water and extra sewer outlet.
Other Major occupants of The Haas Building:
- Southern California Tourist Bureau
- Lee H. Stodder Company – exclusive selling agent for Burkhard Investment Company
- Southern California Oil Co.
- Ku Klux Klan – In the early 1920s the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan held an office in the structure. Haas Realty notified the group that it would not be renewing their lease soon after officers working under the District Attorney raided the building, seizing two carloads of records.
- Chicago Tribune - Opened a branch office, hoping to attract California advertisers to the midwestern paper.
Current
The Haas Building has undergone a complete remodel and will have 68 live/work lofts for lease. In addition the top three floors of The Haas Building will be the home of Loft Seven, a multi-functional private space. The 25000 square feet (2,322.6 m²) space has the feel of a modern boutique hotel with touches of its illustrious 94-year history throughout. Loft Seven is scheduled to launch in 2009.