CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL RESOURCES INVENTORY DATABASE
City of Pasadena
 
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Resource Summary
399 E Union ST
Resource Summary
Address: 399 E Union ST APN: 5723-017-911 [print]

This property needs to be reevaluated to determine if it is eligible for city listing or historic designation. *
 
RESOURCE OVERVIEW
Address: 399 E Union ST
City: Pasadena State: CA
Zip Code: County: Los Angeles
County Code: 37
Historic Name: Plaza Las Fuentes Common Name: Plaza Las Fuentes
APN: 5723-017-911 Zoning:
Building Sq. Ft: Site Size (Acres):
Year Built: 1989 Documented District: PASADENA CIVIC CENTER
District: PASADENA CIVIC CENTER (designated)
 Property Status: Surveyed
Resource Description:
Notes: The plaza may be eligible for historic designation as an example of the work of Lawrence Halprin when it reaches a greater age. 


In 1984, the City of Pasadena initiated a program to improve its historic Civic Center and selected a rectangular block bounded by Colorado Boulevard, Walnut Street, and Los Robles and Euclid avenues for a mixed-use development that would offer a variety of commercial spaces. The six-acre parcel, developed by Maguire Thomas Partners, is situated across from the Beaux Arts-style City Hall. Lawrence Halprin was selected to design an integrated landscape that would reflect the architectural style of the complex and the heritage of nearby old town Pasadena.

Halprin’s Moorish-influenced landscape includes pedestrian arcades and a series of distinct courtyards and terraced public gardens characterized by decorative paving and tilework, lush plantings, and a variety of pools, water channels and waterfalls which reflect the name of the plaza. The central element is a large courtyard anchored with several fountains decorated in hand-painted ceramic tiles. An entire wall of decorative tiles was designed by artist Joyce Kozloff, while sculptures by Michael Lucero and other artists are placed throughout the gardens. Terrace and roof gardens offer views of the iconic City Hall dome as well as the San Gabriel Mountains. The tile work and fountains echo Halprin’s work in Grand Hope Park and the Maguire Gardens in Los Angeles around the same time, also developed by Robert Maguire.
Although it is located within the boundaries of the Pasadena Civic Center Historic District, it is non-contributing to the district because it was built outside of the district's period of significance.
Legal Description:
RESOURCE DETAILS
Primary Architectural Style:
Secondary Architectural Style:
Architect: Lawrence Halprin (landscape architect)
Builder:
Contractor:
Context: Historic Designed Gardens 
Original Owner: City of Pasadena
Original Use:
Original Location:
Demolished: no
Notes:
Moved: no
Date Moved: n/a
Designation Date: n/a

* This is a simplified statement of the property's status. Please review the NRHP Status Code field on the search screen for official, adopted status language.