The Eastern Columbia Building, 1930 Designed by Claud Beelman . Easily the most recognizable Art Deco building in Los Angeles, the Eastern Columbia is one of the most important landmarks in the city. Clad in glossy turquoise terra cotta and trimmed with deep blue and gold trim, the Eastern started its life as a department store, which closed in 1957 and the floors were retrofitted as office space. It was again renovated in 2006 into 147 condominiums, and a rooftop pool was added. This truly concludes our tour of historic downtown Los Angeles.