Last week, the Landmarks Commission designated the office building at 710 Wilshire Boulevard a City landmark, but it won’t remain an office building for long.
Originally known as the Santa Monica Professional Building, the unusually ornate structure occupies a 10,000 square foot corner lot, measures seven stories, including a top floor penthouse, and currently has stores on the first floor.
The owner plans to convert the building into a hotel, and add a second structure on the 37,500 square foot parking lot directly to its south on Seventh Street. The addition will feature pedestrian-oriented shops on the ground floor and below-grade parking to serve the new hotel.
Santa Monica architect Howard Laks, AIA Architects, will design the project, and will work with architectural preservationist Robert Chattel, AIA.The Landmarks Commission discussed the plans for the building’s conversion with Laks prior to making the landmark designation.