Watts Towers to Undergo $22 Million Campus Expansion Ahead of 2028 Olympics
The Watts Towers, a folk art installation consisting of 17 structures in Los Angeles, is set to receive a $22 million renovation and expansion in preparation for the 2028 Summer Olympics. This nearly two-year endeavor will introduce over 30,000 square feet of additional park area, 200 trees, new pathways, and landscaping aimed at flood mitigation and cooling. Constructed by Italian immigrant Sabato "Simon" Rodia between 1921 and 1954, the towers narrowly escaped demolition in 1959 and were recognized as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1965. They achieved U.S. National Historic Landmark status in 1990 and were listed by the World Monuments Fund as one of ten "irreplaceable" heritage sites in June 2024. The project is anticipated to be completed prior to the Olympics.
Key facts
- The Watts Towers are a 17-structure architectural landmark built between 1921 and 1954.
- The $22 million campus expansion will add over 30,000 square feet of park space, 200 trees, and new walkways.
- The project aims to beautify the area ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
- The towers were created by Italian immigrant Sabato 'Simon' Rodia.
- In 1959, the city attempted to demolish the towers, but residents fought back and an engineering test confirmed their structural integrity.
- The towers were designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1965 and a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1990.
- In June 2024, the World Monuments Fund named the towers one of ten 'irreplaceable' heritage sites in the U.S.
- The project has been in the making for about a dozen years, with funding challenges.
Entities
Artists
- Sabato "Simon" Rodia
Institutions
- World Monuments Fund
- Watts Towers Arts Center Campus
- Los Angeles Mayor's Office
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Italy
- Pennsylvania
- Nola, Italy
- Watts