LAX Theme Building

James Langenheim

James Langenheim was an architect at the Los Angeles firm of Pereira & Luckman when he created a design concept for the LAX Theme Building. Langenheim’s colleague Gin D. Wong had led the firm’s redesign of the Los Angeles International Airport in the early 1950s imagining a structure of spokes and satellites. This work may have provided inspiration to Langenheim for the spider-like LAX Theme Building which was constructed in 1960-61. Langenheim subsequently established his own firm, James Langenheim & Associates, and completed many projects including “The Manor”, a 56,500 square-foot French château-style home for television producer Aaron Spelling. Langenheim died in 2010.

LAX Theme Building

The Los Angeles Airport's spaceport-inspired Theme Building was dedicated by Vice-President Lyndon Johnson in 1961 — a particularly fine example of both “Populuxe” and “Googie” design vernaculars. Its soaring and curvilinear arches were so dramatic and iconic that within just 30 years, the building was declared an historic-cultural monument. Originally housing a restaurant, it now is home to the Bob Hope USO facility, providing respite and refreshment to American servicemen and women transiting through LAX.

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