Woodford & Bernard Firm Moves to Wilshire Address

Woodford & Bernard Architects, which traces its beginnings back to John Parkinson, pioneer Los Angeles architect, has moved from its Los Angeles offices of 40 years at 410 N. La Brea Ave., to newly leased space at 2500 Wilshire Blvd.

One of the oldest architectural firms west of Chicago, it now occupies 10,000 square feet of space, about three times more space than it had occupied in its longtime home, according to H. Douglas Wynn, chief executive.

The expansion will better accommodate the staff of 27 and “will allow the firm to have its computer-aided drafting system on-line within the year,” Wynn added. His offices are in San Diego where the firm has a staff of 16.

John Parkinson, who later became the dean of Southern California architecture, started his practice here in 1894 and was associated with his son Donald in designing Los Angeles City Hall, Memorial Coliseum, Union Station and the Bullocks Wilshire building.

In 1945, when Donald Parkinson died, C. Day Woodford and Leonard Bernard took over leadership of the firm and in 1976, they merged with the Depew & Wynn Partnership. Wynn became a senior partner and chief executive in 1980.

Eli Balach will serve as managing partner of the new Los Angeles office and George Crane will be responsible for marketing and construction administration. The lease there is for five years at a cost of $750,000.

Current projects in design by the full-service architectural, planning, engineering and interior design firm include an $8-million ordnance system laboratory for the U.S. Navy at China Lake, a $4.5-million computer center for Southern California Gas Co. in Monterey Park and projects for Pacific Bell at the 1010 Wilshire Building and for AT&T; Information Systems at the 333 Beaudry Building.