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Overview

The investment group, the Los Angeles County Medical Holding Corporation, commissioned the Los Angeles architectural firm of John and Donald Parkinson to design the 13-story Wilshire Medical Building at 1930 Wilshire Boulevard in 1927-1928. The building cost approximately $1 million ot erect, and was, in 07/1928, two-and-a-half months ahead of schedule in construction. In 2016, the tower accommodated the medical offices of the Los Angeles Medical Center and other businesses.

Building History

John and Donald Parkinson worked with the Scofiled-Twaits Construction Company on the reinforced concrete and steel Wilshire Medical Building which was 90% finished in 06/1928. The exterior had Romanesque arches on the first floor and corbelled arches just below the eaves. Pressed brick clad the exterior skin along with areas of glazed terra-cotta tile. An article published in the Los Angeles Times on 07/29/1928 indicated that it had a tentative completion date by 08/15/1928. (See "Structure Nears Completion, Height-Limit Medical Unit on Wilshire," Los Angeles Times, July 29. 1928, p. E2.) According to the Wall Street Journal, occupants began to utilize the office tower in 12/1928. (See Wall Street Journal, "Wilshire Medical Dividend," 11/25/1929, p. 8.)

In 1925, Los Angeles was at the start of a medical building boom, particularly in this Westlake neighborhood. A 2009 report prepared by LSA Associates for the City of Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, noted the numerous health-related buildings built in the vicinity of 1930 Wilshire Boulevard during the mid-to-late 1920s and 1930s: "By 1925, the booming population growth Los Angeles had outstripped the capacity of local hospitals, leading to widespread hospital expansion. According to one article in the Los Angeles Times, twelve new hospital buildings collectively worth $20 million were under construction as the medical community strove to meet the needs of a projected population of 1.5 million people.60 Among the expansions were improvements to two major hospitals located north and east of the Westlake area: St. Vincent’s Hospital (now St. Vincent’s Medical Center) and the Good Samaritan Hospital. The presence of these hospitals also attracted medical personnel and students, as well as those seeking other types of employment in the medical field and support services." (See Tanya Rathbun Sorrell, Bill Bell, Casey Tibbet, "Intensive Survey Westlake Recovery Development Area, City of Los Angeles, California," [Riverside, CA: LSA Associates, Incorporated, 2009], p. 16-17.) This report noted the 1923 construction of the Westlake Professional Building on Wilshire Boulevard and Westlake Avenue's northwest corner, and the Wilshire Medical Building at that intersection's southeast corner, were early examples of how medical office buildings, clinics and housing for medical personnel were being concentrated in this area.

Los Angeles plastic surgeon, Dr. Walter Jayasinghe, purchased the 108,000-square-foot medical office building at 1930 Wilshire Boulevard for $7.3 million in 1992. Jayasinghe, born in Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka), came to the US in 1972, settling first in Bakersfield before relocating to Los Angeles. According to his biography posted on the web site of the Los Angeles Medical Center Cosmetic Surgery: "He trained at the County Hospital of Bakersfield, and completed his residency at California Medical Hospital of Los Angeles and at the University of Southern California from 1972-1977." (See Los Angeles Medical Center Cosmetic Surgery, "About Us," accessed 12/02/2016.) Jayasinghe also had extensive real estate interests controlled through his Walter J. Company, also known as WJ Building Management. According to its LinkedIn page, Walter J. Company was a "strategic consulting company." (See LinkedIn, "Walter J. Company," accessed 12/02/2016.) Adrian Jayasingha was a Vice-President of the Walter J. Company in 2016.

Building Notes

When originally built, the Wilshire Medical Building contained 205 office suites, 10 storefronts and had two basements.

Tel: 213.483.1926 (2016).

Alteration

Significant alterations occurred to the building in 1940, according to Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor records.

In 08/2016, the Walter J. Company announced its intention to renovate the office into a luxury hotel contained 220 rooms. On adjacent land, Walter J. proposed the erection of a 41-story apartment tower to contain primarily market-rate housing, but also 39 low-income units to enable it to qualify for City of Los Angeles "density bonus request." (See The Real Deal, "Plastic surgeon plans to augment Westlake with 220-room hotel conversion," accessed 12/02/2016.)