John Adams Middle School – Los Angeles CA

Description

John Adams Middle School in Los Angeles, CA was rebuilt with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1936-37.

In 1936, a two-story shop and boys’ physical education building was constructed on Main St. The following year, two-story classroom and girls’ physical education buildings—on S Hill St and the corner of Broadway and W 28th St, respectively—were built by contractors Person & Hollingsworth. All three PWA Moderne buildings were designed by architect T. C. Kistner. Construction totaled $314,373.

The reconstruction and renovation of Los Angeles schools damaged by the 1933 Long Beach earthquake was the single largest PWA funded program in the country, totaling ~$34.7 million (LA Times, May 23, 1937).  It was overseen by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and proceeded in two cycles, 1934-35 and 1935-37.

The first cycle began in Spring 1934, lasted 21 months, included over 130 schools, cost ~$10,000,000 (30% funded by PWA grants), and employed ~3,000 workers. The second cycle began in December 1935, lasted 17 months, included 518 additional projects, cost $22,532,727 (45% funded by PWA grants) and employed up to 6,500 workers. The rest of the funds were provided by the sale of LAUSD bonds passed in March 1931 and November 1935.

The school-rebuilding program was widely praised. As the Los Angeles Times declared, “…the Los Angeles coastal basin [will gain] a revamped, modernized and otherwise perfected system of public school structures worthy of consideration and emulation throughout the world” (LA Times, Apr 7, 1935).

Los Angeles area school renovations included “…auditoriums, classroom buildings, gymnasiums, cafeterias, bungalows and administration offices [as well as] landscaping, grading, retaining walls and fresh paint. Strengthening of all schools against earthquake damage is a major factor in the program, with trained inspectors watching every unit of construction” (LA Times, Aug 23, 1936).