page_title: John C. Austin
section_title: Work
hierarchical_section_title: John C. Austin / Work
caption_attribution_description: The Los Angeles City Hall. View West facade, entrance stairs, and entry courtyard. Date In 1931, shortly after its completion Original caption "New Los Angeles City Hall which rises 28 stories and dominates the Civic Center" Overland Monthly; August-September 1931 issue.
context_page_description: John Corneby Wilson Austin was an architect and civic leader who participated in the design of several landmark buildings in Southern California, including the Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles City Hall, and the Shrine Auditorium.
context_section_description: Austin's work as an architect includes:
  The Beckett Mansion, Los Angeles former Residence built in 1905 for the Dr. Wesley Wilbur Beckett family
  Fremont Hotel, Los Angeles (1902), 100 room hotel
  Potter Hotel, a five-story, 600-room resort hotel, Santa Barbara, California, 1902-1903 (burned 1921)
  Virginia Hotel, Long Beach, California, 1907, razed circa 1935
  The Carnegie Library in Anaheim, 1909, now the home of the Anaheim Museum.
  Hollywood Masonic Temple, Hollywood Boulevard, directly across the street from Grauman's Chinese Theatre, 1921, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985
  Guaranty Building, Hollywood, 1923
  Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, the headquarters of the Al Malaikah Temple, a division of the Shriners, 1925-1926.  When opened, the Los Angeles Times called it a "Triumph of Art" and credited the Moorish style architecture to Austin as the man "who drew plans and specifications for the group of magnificent structures."  The Academy Awards have been held at the Shrine on ten occasions.  It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
  Los Angeles City Hall, 1928.  Along with John Parkinson and Albert C. Martin, Sr., Martin was hired to design what has become the most recognized building in Los Angeles.  The selection of an architect for the city hall led to fierce competition among the city's leading architects.  The City Council selected the firm of Curlett and Beelman, but the Board of Public Works chose Martin, Parkinson, and Austin.  Controversy continued when the architects turned in drawings for 28-story tower to house a municipal government that could adequately fit into the first four floors.  The city ultimately accepted the tower plan, and in March 1928 the Board of Public Works passed a resolution commending the architects "for the eminently satisfactory and beautiful design of the monumental building."
  Monrovia High School, Monrovia, California, 1928
  Arroyo Seco Bank Building, Los Angeles, California, 1926
  Memorial Branch Library, Los Angeles, 1930.  This Gothic Revival library building includes a large heraldic work of stained glass created by artists at Judson Studios.  The building was dedicated to the memory of Los Angeles high school students who died in World War I.  Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
  Alexander Hamilton High School, Los Angeles, 1931.  The Administration Building at Hamilton High School was designed by architects John C. Austin and Frederick C. Ashley in the Northern Italian Renaissance style. Multicolored and patterned brickwork, elaborate cast stone decoration, and a bell tower clad in verdigris copper distinguish the building.  Austin & Ashley designed Waidelich Hall  which opened on April 20, 1937.  On February 21, 1989, the auditorium was renamed Norman J. Pattiz Concert Hall.
  Griffith Observatory, Griffith Park, 1933-1935
  NBC Radio City Studios, Hollywood and Vine, 1938-1939 (razed)
  St. Vincent's Hospital
  Los Angeles Hall of Justice - While with Allied Architects, Austin also worked on the Hall of Justice building.  It is the oldest building in the Los Angeles Civic Center and was the site of the trials of Charles Manson and Sirhan Sirhan.  It has been vacant since 1994.
  St. Paul's Catholic Church.
  The first State Building in the Los Angeles Civic Center.
  Los Angeles High School (3rd location), 4650 Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, 1917-1971 (razed)
caption: LA City Hall
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