Resource Report

Historic Resource Summary

Names
Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power Distributing Station #13 (Primary)
Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power Distributing Station #13 (Historic)
DWP Distributing Station 13 (Alternative)
3520 S NORMANDIE AVE (Alternative)
Important Dates
1926-01-01 (Built Date)
Images
Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power Distributing Station #13 - PHOTO
Resource Types
Building
Architect
Builder
Owner

Location Information

Addresses
3520 S NORMANDIE AVE Primary
Location Description
No descriptions recorded
Administrative Areas
South Los Angeles Community Plan Area (Community Plan Area)
Los Angeles City Council District 8 (Council District)
EMPOWERMENT CONGRESS NORTH AREA NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (Neighborhood Council)
EXPOSITION PARK NEIGHBORHOOD (Neighborhood)

Resource Description

Classification
Type: Infrastructure-Water & Power, Utility Building (Water, Electrical Power, Natural Gas)   Use: Historic     Style: Moderne, PWA    
Type: California OHP Resource Attribute - HP09. Public utility building          
Features
No components recorded

Narrative Description

No description available
Alterations
No major alterations

Resource Significance

Evaluation Details

Date Evaluated
2011-09-05
Context/Theme
Public and Private Institutional Development, 1850-1980
Government Infrastructure and Services, 1850-1980
Municipal Water and Power, 1916-1980
Distributing and Receiving Stations, 1916-1980
Institutional - Infrastructure
Distributing Station
Eligibility Standards
  • Constructed of brick, concrete or stone veneer
  • Generally a two-story rectangular box with a flat roof
  • Designed in popular architectural styles including Classical Revival, WPA Moderne, International Style, Arts Deco, Streamline Moderne
  • Few or no windows on facade
  • Prominent signage
  • Retains most of the essential character-defining features from the period of significance
  • Exemplifies the beautification requirements set by the City Arts Commission
  • Is also evaluated as significant under a theme within the Architecture context
  • Is associated with Los Angeles Gas and Electric Corp., Bureau of Power and Light or the Department of Water and Power
  • Was constructed between 1916 and 1980 for water and power uses
  • Designed as neighborhood landmarks which fit into the fabric of a community
    • Integrity Aspects
    Feeling
    Setting
    Design
    Materials
    Workmanship
    Association
    Location
    Retains sufficient integrity to convey significance
    California Historic Resources Status Codes (explanation of codes)
    3CS
    5S3
    3S
    Significance Statement
    Intact DWP station exhibiting high quality of design and representative of grandly scaled public works infrastructure construction during the 1920s.
    Periods of Significance
    From: 1926-01-01
    Date Evaluated
    2012-01-05
    Context/Theme
    Architecture and Engineering, 1850-1980
    L.A. Modernism, 1919-1980
    Related Responses to Modernism, 1924-1970
    PWA Moderne, 1929-1948
    Institutional
    Eligibility Standards
  • Smooth wall surfaces, such as stucco, marble, terrazzo, polished stone (and brick, although rare)
  • Stripped appearance with minimal ornamentation, including some zigzags, medallions, or plaster reliefs
  • Emphasis on verticality
  • Formal symmetry and massing
  • Windows arranged in vertical recessed bays
  • May have regional influence, exhibiting characteristics of the Spanish Colonial Revival or Mediterranean Revival style
  • Retains the essential character defining features of the PWA Moderne style from the period of significance
  • Exhibits quality of design through distinctive features
  • Flat roofs
    • Integrity Aspects
    Setting
    Materials
    Workmanship
    Feeling
    Association
    Design
    Location
    Retains sufficient integrity to convey significance
    California Historic Resources Status Codes (explanation of codes)
    3S
    3CS
    5S3
    Significance Statement
    Excellent example of a PWA Moderne DWP distributing station. Although an early example, it exhibits the essential features of the style and high quality craftsmanship.
    Periods of Significance
    From: 1926-01-01

    External References

    External System References

    SurveyLA ID: 4f566fa6-7686-402a-a656-a07aae453401
    Property Identification Number: 120B197 780
    House ID: 553641

    Related Resources

    Related Historic Resources

    None

    Related Historic Districts

    None

    Related Activities

    SurveyLA - South Los Angeles Survey (was assessed in / assessed)

    Related Historic Events

    None

    Related People/Organizations

    Architectural Resources Group (Surveying Firm, was surveyed by / surveyed)

    Related Information Resources

    Images
    Documents
    SurveyLA: South Los Angeles Historic Resources Survey Report (Document/Text, is referred to in / refers to)

    SurveyLA

    SurveyLA is the first comprehensive program to identify significant historic resources throughout the City of Los Angeles, and is scheduled to be completed in 2017. HistoricPlacesLA includes SurveyLA data published to date. Find out more about SurveyLA at: http://www.preservation.lacity.org/survey

    Office of Historic Resources

    Office of Historic Resources
    Department of City Planning
    221 N. Figueroa Street, Suite 1350
    Los Angeles, CA 90012
    (213) 847-3676 phone
    Email: planning.historicplacesla@lacity.org
    http://www.preservation.lacity.org
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