Santa Monica Clock Tower Building

Santa Monica Clock Tower Building is a winner for the 2025 Preservation Design Award for Preservation or Restoration. Award recipients are selected by a jury of top professionals in the fields of architecture, engineering, planning, and history, as well as renowned architecture critics and journalists. Tickets and sponsorship options are available at californiapreservation.org/programs/awards/.

About Santa Monica Clock Tower Building

Located blocks from the Pacific Ocean, the Clock Tower Building experienced severe exposure to ultraviolet light and airborne salt since construction in 1929, resulting in deterioration of the architectural concrete exterior and the metal cladding. Almost 100 years later, spalling of concrete due to corrosion of reinforcement was present throughout the building as well as corrosion of the exposed metal panels at the clock tower. Previous repair work had also deteriorated. The building had been painted many times, with up to seventeen layers of paint in some locations. In 2019, our firm was engaged to address the condition issues at the façade. We employed methods to obtain the most useful and accurate data about the structure and used the data to develop a preservation approach for the façade. We observed the repair implementation to ensure that a high level of craftsmanship was employed and maintained throughout the project.

Community Importance

The Clock Tower Building located at 225 Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica, California, was constructed in 1929. The building, also known as the Bay Cities Guaranty Building and the Crocker Building, was designed by architectural firm Walker & Eisen and was the tallest building in the City of Santa Monica for decades after it was constructed. The Art Deco style building is highly visible throughout Santa Monica, making it a distinguished landmark located blocks from the Pacific Ocean.

At that time in local history, for a number of reasons, it was highly debated whether Santa Monica should be annexed by Los Angeles. The construction of Santa Monica’s first high-rise structure was an argument against the annexation because it proved that Santa Monica had large enough financial backers willing to loan money toward the construction of great buildings in the community. After the construction of the first one, the way was paved for other larger projects to be financed, leaving less room for debate. The recent façade repair project has restored much of the Santa Monica Clock Tower Building’s former integrity from the time when it was a beacon of the city’s hope for financial stability and independence, and it is still a prominent landmark within the community, located at the heart of the central business district in the city.

About CPF and the Awards

The California Preservation Awards are a statewide hallmark, showcasing the best in historic preservation. The awards ceremony includes the presentation of the Preservation Design Awards and the President’s Awards, bringing together hundreds of people each year to share and celebrate excellence in preservation.

The California Preservation Foundation (CPF), a 501c3 nonprofit, was incorporated in 1978. We now support a national network of more than 36,000 members and supporters. Click here to learn how you can become a member.