James Langenheim

James Langenheim was an architect at the Los Angeles firm of Pereira & Luckman when he created the initial design of the LAX Theme Building in 1959. Langenheim subsequently established his own firm, James Langenheim & Associates, and among many projects, went on to design “The Manor”, a 56,500 square-foot French château-style home for television producer Aaron Spelling. The Manor was completed in Los Angeles in 1988. 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.