Theme Building

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Historic structure at Los Angeles International Airport, California, U.S.

title: "Theme Building" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1961-establishments-in-california", "buildings-and-structures-in-los-angeles", "buildings-and-structures-completed-in-1961", "landmarks-in-los-angeles", "culture-of-los-angeles", "googie-architecture-in-california", "los-angeles-historic-cultural-monuments", "los-angeles-international-airport", "modernist-architecture-in-california", "towers-in-california", "william-pereira-buildings", "westchester,-los-angeles", "retrofuturism", "paul-williams-(architect)-buildings"] description: "Historic structure at Los Angeles International Airport, California, U.S." topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_Building" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Historic structure at Los Angeles International Airport, California, U.S. ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox historic site"]

FieldValue
nameTheme Building
imageLAX LA.jpg
image_size325px
captionThe illuminated exterior of the Theme Building at night, 2007
location201 World Way
Westchester, Los Angeles, California
United States
coordinates
locmapinLos Angeles
built1957–1961
architectPereira & Luckman, Paul Williams and Welton Becket
architectureMid-century modern, Googie
designation1Los Angeles
designation1_dateDecember 18, 1993
designation1_number570
governing_bodyLos Angeles World Airports
::

| name = Theme Building | image = LAX LA.jpg | image_size = 325px | caption = The illuminated exterior of the Theme Building at night, 2007 | location = 201 World Way Westchester, Los Angeles, California United States | coordinates = | locmapin = Los Angeles | area = | built = 1957–1961 | architect = Pereira & Luckman, Paul Williams and Welton Becket | architecture = Mid-century modern, Googie | designation1 = Los Angeles | designation1_date = December 18, 1993 | designation1_number = 570 | governing_body = Los Angeles World Airports

The Theme Building is a structure at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), considered an architectural example of the Space Age design style. Influenced by "Populuxe" architecture, it is an example of the Mid-century modern design movement, later to become known as "Googie". In 1993, the city designated the exterior and interior of the Theme Building as a historic-cultural monument.

Architecture

The distinctive white building resembles a flying saucer that has landed on its four legs. The initial design was created by James Langenheim, of Pereira & Luckman, subsequently taken to fruition by a team of architects and engineers, headed by William Pereira and Charles Luckman, that also included Paul Williams and Welton Becket. The civil engineer was Richard Bradshaw.

The appearance of the building's signature crossed arches as homogeneous structures is a design illusion, created by topping four steel-reinforced concrete legs extending approximately 15 feet above the ground with hollow stucco-covered steel trusses. To counteract earthquake movements, the Theme Building was retrofitted in 2010 with a tuned mass damper without changing its outward appearance.

Constructed near the beginning of the Space Age, the building is an example of how aeronautics and pop culture, design and architecture came together in Los Angeles.

History

The original design for the airport created by Pereira & Luckman in 1959 had all the terminal buildings and parking structures connected to a huge glass dome, which would serve as a central hub for traffic circulation. The plan was eventually scaled down considerably, and the terminals were constructed elsewhere on the property. The Theme Building was subsequently built to mark the spot intended for the dome structure, as a reminder of the original plan.

The building construction contract was awarded to Robert E. McKee General Contractor, Inc. of El Paso, Texas.

The structure was dedicated on June 25, 1961, by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Los Angeles City Council designated the building, which lies within the Westchester neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles, a historic-cultural monument (no. 570) in 1993.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Interior_of_Encounter_Restaurant_&Bar_at_Los_Angeles_International_Airport(10818559866).jpg" caption="Interior of Encounter Restaurant (2013)"] ::

A $4 million renovation, with retro-futuristic interior and electric lighting designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, was completed before the Encounter Restaurant opened there in 1997. Visitors are able to take an elevator up to the Observation Level to get a 360-degree view of arriving and departing planes. An airport spokeswoman said that because of its appearance and views, some people thought it revolved after visiting it, even though it did not.

After the September 11 attacks, the Observation Level was closed for security reasons. Following a $12.3 million restoration of the building completed in 2010, the observation level re-opened to the public on Saturdays and Sundays starting July 10. Additionally, on September 9, 2003, a permanent memorial honoring those who perished in the attacks of September 11 was opened on the grounds of the Theme Building.

The Encounter Restaurant closed for business in December 2013 with no future plans to reopen. The reason cited was that the restaurant was in a non-secure area of the airport, so travelers were reluctant to spend time there when a possibly lengthy security checkpoint lay ahead, or leave after being screened and have to go through security again upon returning. The observation level of the building was then open on weekends until 2016 when its schedule was reduced to one weekend per month, before closing permanently in September 2018.

Previously, the restaurant had been closed for repairs in March 2007, after a 1/2 t piece of the stucco skin on the upper arches crashed onto the roof of the restaurant. The restaurant reopened on November 12, 2007. Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services operated the restaurant.

In 2018, the Bob Hope USO at LAX relocated to the ground floor of the Theme Building, opening a 7,100 square foot facility described by its president as "the most technologically advanced USO in existence."

References

References

  1. Novak, Matt. "Googie: Architecture of the Space Age". Smithsonian.
  2. "The "Theme Building," Los Angeles International Airport". [[University of Southern California]].
  3. (June 21, 2021). "ICONIC BUILDING OF THE MONTH: THE THEME BUILDING | Spektra Global".
  4. "LAX Theme Building".
  5. Steinhauer, Jennifer. (April 17, 2010). "In Los Angeles, the Saucer Is Ready to Land Again". [[The New York Times]].
  6. Anderton, Frances. (July 16, 2019). "How the Space Age influenced Southland design and architecture".
  7. (February 8, 2013). "The Unlikely History of Pereira's Theme Building". Fentress Architects.
  8. "PCAD - Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Theme and Arch Building, Westchester, Los Angeles, CA".
  9. "PCAD - Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Theme and Arch Building, Westchester, Los Angeles, CA".
  10. Moffat, Susan. (December 19, 1992). "Landing a Landmark: LAX Monument to '60s Optimism Granted Historical Status". Los Angeles Times.
  11. Martens, Todd. (2025-02-21). "14 places in L.A. that every Disney lover must visit at least once".
  12. Kreuzer, Nikki "[http://thelosangelesbeat.com/2013/05/offbeat-l-a-sexy-space-age-the-theme-building-at-lax/ Offbeat L.A.: Sexy Space Age – The Theme Building at LAX]", ''The Los Angeles Beat'', May 30, 2013.
  13. Reynolds, Christopher. (January 19, 1997). "Theme Building: 60-Second Appraisal". Los Angeles Times.
  14. (July 2, 2010). "Iconic LAX Theme Building ready for its close-up". [[KPCC (radio station).
  15. "Art Program – LAX 9/11 Memorial".
  16. (January 8, 2014). "LAX's Encounter Restaurant Closes With No Plans To Reopen « CBS Los Angeles". Losangeles.cbslocal.com.
  17. Forgione, Mary. (January 8, 2014). "Encounter, LAX Theme Building restaurant, closes with no plan in sight". [[Los Angeles Times]].
  18. (April 2020). "LAX at a Glance: The Theme Building". LAX.
  19. Marroquin, Art. (November 11, 2007). "Spruced-up Encounter Restaurant to reopen Monday at LAX". [[Los Angeles Daily News]].
  20. "Encounter Restaurant & Bar: Genesis of the Encounter and FAQs".
  21. "Bob Hope USO Opens New Airport Center Inside Iconic LAX Theme Building".
  22. Reynolds, Christopher. (June 12, 2018). "Is LAX's Theme Building coming back to life as part of an on-airport hotel?". [[Los Angeles Times]].
  23. "Report - HPLA".
  24. (September 7, 2007). "Historic Resources Report". City of Los Angeles.

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1961-establishments-in-californiabuildings-and-structures-in-los-angelesbuildings-and-structures-completed-in-1961landmarks-in-los-angelesculture-of-los-angelesgoogie-architecture-in-californialos-angeles-historic-cultural-monumentslos-angeles-international-airportmodernist-architecture-in-californiatowers-in-californiawilliam-pereira-buildingswestchester,-los-angelesretrofuturismpaul-williams-(architect)-buildings