DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT COMPANY LONG BEACH PLANT, HAER CA-315-T PEDESTRIAN TUNNELS CA-315-T 3855 Lakewood Boulevard Long Beach Los Angeles County California
PHOTOGRAPHS
WRITTEN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE DATA
HISTORIC AMERICAN ENGINEERING RECORD PACIFIC GREAT BASIN SUPPORT OFFICE National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior 600 Harrison Street San Francisco, CA 94103 HISTORIC AMERICAN ENGINEERING RECORD
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT COMPANY LONG BEACH PLANT, PEDESTRIAN TUNNELS
HAER No. CA-315-T
Location: 3855 North Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California.
Long Beach, California 7.5-minute USGS Quadrangle, Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Coordinates: North Tunnel: Zone 11, Easting 394324, Northing 3743794 Mid Tunnel: Zone 11, Easting 394317, Northing 3743575 South Tunnel: Zone 11, Easting 394315, Northing 3743209
Present Owner: McDonnell Douglas Corporation, a Maryland corporation c/o Boeing Realty Corporation 15480 Laguna Canyon Road, #200 Irvine, California 92618
Original Use: The tunnels were used by the employees of Douglas Aircraft Company as a means of crossing Lakewood Boulevard safely.
Present Use: The underground features are currently closed and inactive.
Significance Summary:
Together the three underground tunnels are considered one of the two features along with 18 contributing buildings that comprise the Douglas Aircraft Company Long Beach Plant historic district. Activities associated with the district significantly contributed to the history of the aviation industry in southern California, the war (World War II) effort and the movement to utilize women workers on the Home Front, and to the development and growth of Long Beach and Lakewood.
A. General Statement:
1. Summarized History: Constructed in 1941, the three underground tunnels of the Douglas Aircraft Company Long Beach Plant once linked the west plant (that area on the west side Lakewood Boulevard) with DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT COMPANY LONG BEACH PLANT, PEDESTRIAN TUNNELS HAER No. CA-315-T (PAGE 2)
the 60-acre wartime parking area that is now the east plant. Situated under Lakewood Boulevard these tunnels were provided as part of the defense readiness design of the plant and were also designed as bomb shelters. The concrete lined tunnels accommodated both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, with entrances located near the eastern perimeter of the Douglas Aircraft Company Plant (that area west of Lakewood Boulevard) and the western side of the.
2. Architectural Character: Utilitarian with Moderne influences. The Modem design features incorporated of all three tunnels relate to the design elements utilized on the Lakewood frontage of Buildings number 7, 8, 9, 17, and 18.
3. Condition of Fabric: Good.
4. Summary Description: The three concrete pedestrian tunnels are arched shape and are paved with asphalt and concrete sidewalks. All entry ramps have non-skid surfaces. Sentry stations are posted at both the west and east ends of the tunnels. The tunnels are numbered 1 through 3. Tunnel number l located between building number 17 and building number 9. Tunnel number 2 is centrally located along Lakewood Boulevard and is situated between building number 8 and building number 7. Tunnel number 3 is located at the southern end of building number 18 north of Conant Street.
B. Description of Exterior:
1. Overall Dimensions: All three tunnels are approximately 20 feet wide, 180 feet long, and 15 feet high.
2. Foundation(s): The building has a continuous-poured reinforced concrete slab foundation.
3. Wall Construction: Reinforced concrete.
4. Structural System, Framing: Reinforced concrete. DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT COMPANY LONG BEACH PLANT, PEDESTRIAN TUNNELS HAER No. CA-315-T (PAGE3)
5. Porches, Balconies, Stairs: None
6. Openings:
a. Doorways and Doors: None.
b. Windows: None.
7. Roof:
a. Shape, Covering: Not applicable.
8. Other Exterior Features: None.
C. Description of Interior:
1. Floor Plans: The floor plan of each tunnel is linear in configuration.
2. Stairways, Catwalks: None.
3. Flooring: Concrete for the sidewalks; asphalt for the area utilized by vehicles.
4. Wall and Ceiling Finish: Concrete.
5. Openings:
a. Doorways and Doors: Metal roll-up type doors on either end of each tunnel opening. DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT COMPANY LONG BEACH PLANT, PEDESTRIAN TUNNELS HAER No. CA-315-T (PAGE4)
b. Windows: None.
6. Mechanical Equipment:
a. Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation: Heating: None.
Air Conditioning: Integrated into the wall and ceiling surfaces of the tunnels.
Ventilation: Ventilation throughout the tunnels was originally provided by air flow from either side of the open tunnel system and an integral air conditioning system.
b. Lighting: Original electric lighting was incandescent provided by large, industrial type attached light fixtures.
c. Plumbing: Utility trenches are located within the floor of each tunnel.
7. Other Interior Features and/or Elements: None.
Prepared by: Janet Ostashay, Director of Cultural Resources Management PCR Services Corporation 233"Wilshire m:mtevard; Suite BO· · Santa Monica, California 90401
Date: May2006 ~
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