Beehive (1994-2001) by Eric Owen Moss in the Hayden Tract, Culver City; photo by Hannah Simonson.

An enlightened developer and a visionary architect partnered to transform a non-descript light-industrial tract into one of the most desired hubs of creative office space in Culver City: the Hayden Tract. The tour begins with a brief lecture about the history of the Hayden Tract, the developers Frederick and Laurie Samitauer Smith, and is followed by an extensive self-guided walking tour of the neighborhood which features Deconstructivist icons by Eric Owen Moss from the 1990s to the 2000s, as well as the latest addition, the (W)rapper tower completed in 2023.

This is a walking tour, please wear comfortable shoes. Participants can get to the tour starting location on their own or leave from USC with a volunteer prior to the tour and take public transit to the site.

The tour will be led by Hannah Simonson and Sian Winship, with a lecture by Jay Platt.

$40 USD/person

Note: You must be registered for the conference in order to register for tours. Once you complete your conference registration you will receive an email with links to register for your tours.

About the Tour Leaders

Hannah Simonson is an architectural historian working in Los Angeles. She has worked on a range of projects from documenting the significance of William Pereira's Transamerica Pyramid (1972) and John Portman's Embarcadero Center (1971-81) in San Francisco to developing design guidelines for Midcentury Modern tract homes designed by Joseph Eichler. She received a Master of Science in Historic Preservation at The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture in 2017. Her personal and professional research interests include San Francisco Bay Area regional architecture, late 20th century architecture, and redevelopment and public art. Hannah is the past president of the Docomomo US/Northern California chapter and is currently the vice president of the Docomomo US/Southern California chapter. 

Sian Winship is an architectural historian, marketing researcher, and writer who specializes in modern architecture. Sian is Board President of Society of Architectural Historians Southern California Chapter (SAH/SCC), and also serves on the boards of the Neutra Institute for Design and Friends of Residential Treasures: LA (FORTLA).

Jay Platt is the principal planner for Historic Preservation with the City of Glendale Community Development Department. He is also an adjunct associate professor in the Heritage Conservation program at USC.  Over the last thirty years, Jay has served in various roles in the public, private, non-profit, and education sectors in New York City, Philadelphia, and his hometown, Los Angeles.  And, most days, he's still into it!  He received his undergraduate degree from UCLA and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania.  He and his wife Kathleen enjoy life in Eagle Rock with a couple of amusing beagles.