Fleetwood Center Los Angeles Scan

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One of the last remaining examples of photogrammatic architecture in Los Angeles still stands tall. To learn more about this architectural treasure, be sure to check out the LA Conservancy at https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/fleetwood-center. Overview: Tucked away on a street celebrated for its unique blend of "carchitecture," is there any more literal representation than a building that perfectly replicates the front of a Cadillac? This unlikely facade belongs to a strip mall in Tarzana, which was completed in 1987 and apparently never housed any business related to the iconic car brand. In fact, it's surprising to discover that this distinctive structure has never been home to a Cadillac dealership. Lee Oakes, a renowned architect from Matlin and Dvoretzky, designed the two-story building for developer CBS Realcorp. When asked about his creative process in a 1987 Los Angeles Times article, he candidly admitted that the Mimetic style was outside of his usual design parameters: "Very rarely do I have creative impulses like this. I was simply walking around and saw this Cadillac grille. It just clicked into place."