Honoring Heritage: The Historic Santa Monica Nikkei Hall

Over the next several decades, as more families left the area, the building mostly served senior citizens. By 2017, only a few members remained, and the hall eventually stood empty with its future unclear.

In 2018, the Landmarks Commission named the closed community center a historic landmark to honor its cultural value to Santa Monica. A commission member spoke up about its importance, which helped save the building from demolition.

In 2019, EAH Housing bought the historic Nikkei Hall and started a major renovation to give it new life. They kept the Hall's original windows, entry porch, and woodwork, turning it into a community room for residents of The Laurel. They also brought back the Japanese garden on the property.

In 1951, a group of Issei, or Japanese-born immigrant leaders, founded Santa Monica Nikkei Hall, Inc., and purchased property at 1413 Michigan Avenue. To get around alien land laws, they put their American-born sons’ names on the deeds so the community could have a lasting place to gather.

The Santa Monica Nikkei Hall was constructed in 1957 and designed by Berkeley-born architect Yoshimi Tom Makino. Makino, previously incarcerated at Rohwer, Arkansas, during World War II, worked as an architect for the War Relocation Authority before reestablishing his practice in Los Angeles in 1956.

The modest, one-story hall, built in the Mid-Century Modern Institutional style, became a gathering place for Nisei (American-born Japanese) families. Here, they connected with their heritage, celebrated holidays, conducted funerals, and accessed support services.

This award honors The Laurel for combining historic preservation with sustainable, all-electric construction to thoughtfully address today’s housing needs. We appreciate our partners at KFA Architecture, whose design made this achievement possible.

The project supports historic preservation by including original site features and materials in its new design. This approach fits with Santa Monica’s architectural heritage and preservation goals in Los Angeles County. By preserving key elements such as facade treatments and original materials, The Laurel stays connected to its past and adds to the energy of its neighborhood.
The California Preservation FoundThe California Preservation Foundation’s award is given to projects chosen by a jury of leading experts in architecture, engineering, planning, and history, along with well-known architecture critics and journalists.l is multifaceted: it provides affordable housing in a high-demand area, supports economic diversity, addresses housing shortages, and promotes sustainability by reducing the environmental impact of new construction. The project serves as a model for similar developments, demonstrating how preservation and adaptive reuse can meet community needs without compromising historical integrity.

Project Team:
Developer: EAH Housing
Architect: John Arnold, AIA, Partner, KFA Architecture
Landscape Architect: Mark Beall, ASLA, Mark Beall + Associates
Structural Engineer: Ming Yang Yeh, SE, Ming Yang Yeh & Associates
MEP Engineer: Mark Shamim, Shamim Engineering
Civil Engineer: Ronald Peralbo, Breen Engineering, Inc.
Contractor: Mark Russell, Westport Construction, Inc.
Historic Preservation Consultant: Chattel, Inc.
Restoration Contractor: Spectra Company

Today, Nikkei Hall stands as a testament to the resilience and history of the Japanese American community in Southern California, ensuring that future generations can appreciate its rich legacy while serving the housing needs of Santa Monica residents.