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4/15/25
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Allied Commercial has completed the conversion and restoration of a historic 85-year-old post office located at 1601 Main St in the Venice area of Los Angeles to a 23.7k sf creative campus for media, events, and seminars fostering artistic growth.
The site is now the headquarters of the Lighthouse Creative Group and is also used as an event space with dedicated artist studios. The property features production offices and production facilities, and offers a collaborative workspace for creatives to meet and exchange ideas. Additional features include a mixed-use theater, recording studio, podcast suites, a coffee shop, an outdoor garden and more, all cultivating creativity and collaboration.
Led by Alexander Dellal of Allied Commercial, the team meticulously restored the Louis Simon-designed Roosevelt-era post office to its original glory. It underwent a comprehensive rehabilitation to transform it into a commercial building while preserving its historic value. The rehabilitation followed the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Properties.
Exterior Works:
• Stucco Cladding: The original stucco was replaced with a new finish, ensuring proper application through mock-ups and tests.
• Parapet Wall: The parapet wall was updated with new waterproofing and sheet metal coping.
• Metalwork: Missing handrails, attic grills, downspouts, leader heads, and gutters were recreated and reinstalled.
• Front Door: The front door was recreated using historic photos, ensuring it matched the original design.
• Lighthouse Signage: The original post office sign letters were preserved and contributed to the creation of the new Lighthouse signage.
Interior Works:
• Lobby: Significant work included terrazzo floor repairs, marble wainscot installation to match the original, using historic photos as guidance. The marble used in the lobby was sourced from the same quarry that originally supplied the building.
• Wood-frame Bulletin Board Cases: The original wood-frame bulletin board cases were restored and reinstalled.
• Ceiling and Walls: The ceiling and walls were painted, with new linear diffusers installed to complement the paint color.
• Mural Installation: The 1941 mural “Abbot Kinney and the Story of Venice,” painted by Edward Biberman, was reinstalled in the lobby. The reinstallation followed guidance from painting conservator Tatyana M. Thompson to ensure the mural's preservation.
The Louis Simon-designed post office was one of many built as part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. Completed in 1939, the Mediterranean Revival-style property was also one of about 800 USPS buildings adorned with an interior mural; a federally funded arts initiative which counteracted the Great Depression with bolstered morale and job creation.
The project team included Chattel as historic preservation consultants, with Pacific Edge managing the project and implementing the designs of Boto Design Architects, while JTM Construction Group, known for their expertise in renovating historic buildings, served as the general contractor.
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