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Claud Beelman

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Claud Beelman
Born1884
Ohio
DiedJanuary 30, 1963
Los Angeles, California
NationalityAmerican
OccupationArchitect
SpouseLourene Taft Beelman
Children1 daughter
AwardsHonorary Doctor of Architecture from Woodbury University, May 12, 2023
BuildingsSuperior Oil Company Building

Claud W. Beelman (1884 – January 30, 1963), sometimes known as Claude Beelman, was an American architect who designed many examples of Beaux-Arts, Art Deco, and Streamline Moderne style buildings. Many of his buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Biography

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Garfield Building entrance.

Beelman was married to Lourene Taft Beelman (b. 1884, Ohio - d. 1948, Ca.). In 1910, he was a draftsman in the state of Indiana. (Cite: U.S. Census Records, State of Indiana, 1910.) It was there they had a daughter, Helen Beelman (b. 1912). By the 1920s, the family had relocated to Los Angeles, and by 1930, they lived in Beverly Hills.

From the 1920s on, Beelman, as partner or owner of one or another of several firms (Curlett + Beelman; Allison & Allison; Ruck & Beelman; Claud Beelman & Associates) designed a number of prominent civic and private structures. By 1956, Claude Beelman & Associates officed at 7421 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles 90036.

When he was in his seventies, Beelman designed the 12-story Superior Oil building for oil tycoon W.M. Keck. Completed in 1955, the Superior Oil building later became The Bank of California Building, and was used for the bank's offices until the 1980s. By the late 1990s, the building had been vacant for nearly ten years, but has been renovated beginning in 2000 by hotel developer Andre Balazs, and now is the location of his hotel The Standard.

Eastern Columbia Building

It is the zig-zag moderne Eastern Columbia Building, however, with its facade of turquoise green terra cotta tile, ornate clock tower, art deco lighting, fixtures, signage and architectural detail that is Beelman's most recognizable work. In 2006, the Eastern Columbia Building was converted from office space to loft live/work spaces by the Kor Group and is now one of the most desirable loft buildings in Downtown Los Angeles.

On May 12, 2023, Beelman was posthumously awarded an Honorary Doctor of Architecture from Woodbury University in Burbank, California.

Works

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Registered in The National Register of Historic Places

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Some of the California landmark buildings designed by Beelman include (All located in Los Angeles, California unless otherwise noted):

Garfield Building, 2008
Cooper Arms Apartments

Other notable works

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Park Plaza Hotel Building
Farmers and Merchants Bank Office Tower

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form - California SP Broadway Theater and Commercial District". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. May 9, 1979.
  2. ^ "The Standard Hotel Site". Archived from the original on 2006-10-22. Retrieved 2006-10-15.
  3. ^ "The Los Angeles Times: "Rooms with a 'Mod' View" (PDF file)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-11-27. Retrieved 2006-10-15.
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Hollywood, CA Post Office
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