Dorsey High School

: Dorsey High School Montgomery Auditorium

Project type: Education and Health, Schools

Agency: Public Works Administration (PWA)

Designers: C. E. Noerenberg, H. L. Gogerty

Quality of Information: Moderate

Site Survival: Extant

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Description

The main building and auditorium of this modernistic earthquake-proof school was constructed by the PWA.

From Southwest Builder and Contractor, October 8, 1937: “The streamlined appearance of Dorsey High was conceived by architects H. L. Gogerty and C. E. Noerenberg, who declared that the design of the campus was intended to architecturally and structurally express in functional form the outer envelope of a process of public education” (p. 12).

: Dorsey High School front

Dorsey High School front
Photo: Andrew Laverdiere Creative Commons 2015

Dorsey High School front

: Dorsey High School Montgomery Auditorium

Dorsey High School Montgomery Auditorium
Photo: Robert Dawson © All rights reserved.

Dorsey High School Montgomery Auditorium

: Dorsey High School
"The modernistic facade of a new earthquake-proof school, The Susan Dorsey High School, Los Angeles, was constructed by PWA." - National Archives and Records Administration, Neg. P-46

Dorsey High School

Dorsey High School

: 11. Dorsey High

11. Dorsey High
Photo: National Archives Record Group 69-PWA © National Archives. All rights reserved.

11. Dorsey High

: Students at Dorsey High School
"Students leave the Susan Dorsey High School. The modern lines of this earthquake-proof structure are accented in the late afternoon sun. This building was constructed by PWA." - National Archives and Records Administration, Neg. P-47

Students at Dorsey High School

Students at Dorsey High School

: Dorsey High School Auditorium
"Light and Shadow emphasize the modernistic lines of this earthquake-proof auditorium of the new Susan Dorsey High School, constructed by PWA." - National Archives and Records Administration, Neg. P-48

Dorsey High School Auditorium

Dorsey High School Auditorium

Source notes

Historic Schools of the Los Angeles Unified School District

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Location Info

3537 Farmdale Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90016

Coordinates: 34.022973, -118.346037

One comment on “Dorsey High School – Los Angeles CA”

Paul N. Leckner May 18, 2021

Wow! I have visited that high school campus many times over the years, and had no idea of the significance. The only clue I ever had to its longevity was the huge Eucalyptus tree in the grassy courtyard near the main office and the “A” wing.

Dorsey High School Montgomery Auditorium