Richfield Tower, also known as the Richfield Oil Company Building, was an office tower that served as the headquarters of the Richfield Oil Corporation in Los Angeles, California. It was constructed between 1928 and 1929 and demolished in 1969, replaced by City National Plaza.
History 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 gold" that was Richfield's business. Haig Patigian did the exterior sculptures.
The 12-floor building was tall, including a tower atop the building, emblazoned vertically with the name "Richfield". Lighting on the tower was made to simulate an oilwell gusher and the motif was reused at some Richfield service stations.
The company outgrew the building, and it was demolished in 1969, much to the dismay of Los Angeles residents and those interested in architectural preservation, to make way for the ARCO Plaza skyscraper complex. The elaborate black-and-gold elevator doors were salvaged from the building and reside in the lobby of the new ARCO building (City National Tower).
The two golden elevator doors were installed as public art inside the City National Plaza (formerly the Arco Tower), the building that replaced the Richfield Tower.
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