939 Broadway Lofts is the first Historic residential adaptive re­use project in the South Park Neighborhood of Downtown LA. Adjacent to the United Artists Theater and now also the Ace Hotel, 939 South Broadway was the largest costume rental house in the world, responsible for 99% of the costumes used in all Western movies in the early days of Hollywood. The building featured a drive­-on elevator that would take cars to the rooftop parking lot and was the vision of big­ screen stars Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks of the United Artists studio.

Building History

Formerly home to and known as the "Western Costume Building," 939 South Broadway has also left an impact in the Downtown Arts District for its involvement in filming and its prime location next to the United Artists Theatre. The old Western Costume Building is located on the west side of Broadway, 130 to 230 feet north of the West Olympic Boulevard intersection. The structure was built at the request of the Ninth and Broadway Company. The prominent Los Angeles architect, Kenneth MacDonald, Jr. was commissioned to design the building. Construction was initiated on March 29, 1924, and completed by January, 1925. The notable local construction firm of MacDonald & Kahn executed the construction. The structure has subsequently been identified as the 939 South Broadway Building, and is currently identified as the Anjac Fashion Building at this address.

Located adjacent to the exuberantly Neo-Gothic United Artists Building, 939 South Broadway is an eleven story commercial structure in the more typical Renaissance Revival style. However, a two story Gothic-inspired Art Deco entrance is overlaid on the northernmost of the five bays of the facade. A segmented archway, emphasized by a chevron molding and a fluted spandrel, is flanked by fluted piers which taper into triangles embellished with scrolled designs. Elaborate metal work frames the one story door, the four round-headed windows in the transom, and the arched second story window. The remaining bays of the two story base contain altered storefronts on the ground level and three windows, separated by colonnette mullions, on the second story. Panelled piers, edged by spiralled moldings define the bays and are accented at the level of the first floor frieze by shields. A second frieze, topped by a cornice and antefixes, terminates the base of the building. The shaft is composed of the third through ninth floors and is faced with brown brick. No extraneous ornamentation interrupts the fenestration until a decorative frieze above the ninth story is reached. The capital of the building is two stories high and defined by continuous piers and mullions with terracotta spandrels between stories. Stylized Ionic capitals crown the piers. A decorative frieze, fringed with antefixes, culminates the design.

The old Western Costume Building is significant for its architectural integrity and quality, its design by a prominent local architect, as a stylistic and representative example of commercial architecture in Los Angeles, during this period, and for its consistency in scale, style, and period with neighboring buildings in the Central Business District, contributing to a unique sense of time and place.

It was designed by the prominent Los Angeles architect, Kenneth MacDonald, Jr. and was constructed by the notable local construction firm of MacDonald & Kahn.

Interior Features

Entry Door - Natural wood stained mocha.

Interior Doors - Wood frame obscured glass white lacquer paint.

Interior Wardrobe Doors - sliding wood frame obscured glass white lacquer paint.

Floors - Porcelain Tile.

Door Hardware - Polished chrome, lever.

Kitchens

Cabinets - White lacquer with engineered veneer finish.

Quartz tops with Stainless Steel under mount sink.

Moen Faucet, with pull out handle, square look, polished chrome.

GE Stainless Steel Electric Range Oven.

GE Stainless Steel Microwave Hood, vented to the outside.

GE Stainless Steel Refrigerator, Top Freezer with ice maker.

GE or Frigidaire Stainless Steel Dishwasher

Bathrooms

Floors, Walls - Porcelain Tile.

Tubs - Kohler cast iron or Kona Fiberglass.

Lavatory - Kohler, Mirabelle.

Faucet and Shower - Moen square look, polished chrome.

Mirror - Lighted.

Cabinets - white lacquer with engineered veneer finish.

Vanity - Ceramic or Quartz Tops with under mount sink.

Laundry

GE or Whirlpool one piece electric stacked laundry, vented to the outside.

Building Amenities

Front Desk and Security Guard

Rooftop sundeck with pool, spa, lounge chairs and cabanas

Exercise room

Theater and media room on the basement floor