Did you know the Long Beach Professional Building was once the city’s first dedicated medical office? This eight-story Art Deco building stands as a testament to Long Beach’s booming 1920s. It’s more than just a pretty facade.
The Long Beach Professional Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Its architecture embodies the Art Deco style. The building is located at 117 E. 8th Street.
Picture this: Long Beach in the 1920s. Oil had been discovered. The population doubled. New construction was everywhere. The Long Beach Professional Building became one of the city’s major projects. The Long Beach Press-Telegram declared it extended the business district.
W. Van Patten Wilson, Inc., commissioned the Long Beach Professional Building. He envisioned private practice doctors, medical lab technicians, and dentists filling its offices. By 1935, the building housed roughly 40 doctors and 12 dentists. This shows Long Beach was no longer just a resort town. It had grown into a city needing many medical professionals.
William Douglas Lee designed the Long Beach Professional Building. He also designed the Chateau Marmont and El Royale Apartments in Los Angeles. For the Long Beach Professional Building, he chose the Art Deco style. The design emphasizes height and incorporates geometric patterns. The piers on the bottom floor draw your eyes upward.
Step inside and imagine the lobby. It once had multicolored marble and terrazzo floors. Black marble accents adorned the walls. Geometric patterns were painted on the archways. An original mailbox and mail chute stood near the elevators. Until the 1990s, human operators ran the elevators.
The Long Beach Professional Building survived the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. It continued to serve its original purpose for decades. During World War II, many doctors returning from service had offices here.
Businesses have always occupied the ground floor retail spaces. There were pharmacies and medical labs. There were also gift shops and coffee chains.
Over the years, the Long Beach Professional Building has undergone several renovations. In 1962, the storefronts were remodeled with black granite and aluminum frames. In the early 2000s, it was renovated into an assisted living facility.
In 2018, KTGY Architecture + Planning renovated the building again. It reopened as Regency Palms. It is now a luxury assisted living and memory care facility. Former office spaces became residential units. The roof transformed into a tree-lined terrace.
Today, the Long Beach Professional Building stands as a landmark. It is a reminder of Long Beach’s past. It also actively participates in its future. So, the next time you pass by, remember its story. It’s a story of growth, adaptation, and architectural beauty.