Coca-Cola Building Begins $48 Million Renovation

Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling has officially begun construction work on the grand renovation of the historic Coca-Cola building in downtown Los Angeles.

The $47.5 million endeavor to bring the aging structure at 1334 South Central Avenue into the 21st century kicked off last week, the Architects Newspaper reported. Reyes Coca-Coca Bottling plans to revamp both the exterior and interior of the nautical-themed building in anticipation of events tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics.

Gensler is designing the new building façade; Chattel Incorporated and Ryan Companies are handling project planning. The plant was built in 1939 and was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1975. Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling operates out of the building and distributes the iconic soda to the West Coast and Midwest; it’s the last bottling facility in the City of Los Angeles.

“Los Angeles is an economic engine, connecting local businesses to the rest of the country and the world,” Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. “Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling has decided to renew and expand on their investment in our city, continuing to support good paying jobs for Angelenos and playing an integral role in downtown L.A. — another signal that Los Angeles is open for business.”

The building was originally designed by architect Robert V. Derrah in the Streamline Moderne style, often characterized by nautical motifs. The facility was designed to resemble an ocean liner, complete with porthole windows and decorative touches like life preservers that read “S.S. Coca-Cola.”

As part of the nearly $50 million revitalization effort, the industrial rooftop at the facility will be given a makeover into a new rooftop deck. An existing patio will also get a facelift ahead of World Cup and Olympics-related events. The interior of the building was converted into office space years ago and will also get a revamp through a phased redesign process with a more open floor plan and modernized production spaces.

Elsewhere in Greater Los Angeles, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling announced plans two years ago to demolish and expand another one of its facilities in Rancho Cucamonga, L.A. Business First reported.

— Chris Malone Méndez