Killingsworth, Brady, & Smith

This small office complex in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach was completed in 1955 for the architectural firm of Edward A. Killingsworth, Jules Brady and Waugh Smith. It is a single-story, wood-framed building in the International style, with exposed post-and-beam structure, full-height glass, a nearly flat roof and a recessed central entrance reached across a shallow reflecting pool by stepping stones. Large trees were kept on the site and built into the design, and small walled gardens adjoin the offices. The building was first two pavilions with three tenant spaces; gardens between them were infilled in 1957, and later additions came in 1960 and 1974. It is described as the prototype of features that became the firm's trademarks, including reflecting pools, high doorways and expanses of glass. Killingsworth went on to design homes, civic buildings and hotels, and served as campus master planner at California State University, Long Beach. The property is recognized for its architecture and for its role in the planning and development of the area, with a significance period of 1955-1957.