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“CITY OF THE ANGELS” AWARD
ROBERT F. MAGUIRE III JAMES A. THOMAS
Co-managing Partners, Maguire Thomas Partners
As co-managing partners of central city’s largest commercial property owner and pioneers of the Bunker Hill redevelopment, Robert F. (Rob) Maguire III and James A. (Jim) Thomas have been a dominant force in the renaissance of downtown Los Angeles.
By developing Library Square—including Wells Fargo Center, Grand Place, and Library Tower, the L.A. skyline’s signature building—they are making possible the saving and renovation of the historic Central Library, the largest public library west of Chicago and a renowned research institution.
Adding to the revitalization of the central city is Maguire Thomas Partners’ longtime support, both in concept and development, of a downtown pedestrian network. Bunker Hill Steps, a sweeping, water-cascading, grand outdoor stairway reminiscent of Rome’s Spanish Steps, will curve around the base of Library Tower, linking MOCA and the Court at Wells Fargo Center atop Bunker Hill with the Central Library and its open public areas. A pedestrian promenade along Fifth Street will integrate Bunker Hill Steps, Library Tower, One Bunker Hill, Grand Place Tower, and Pershing Square, the city’s oldest park.
A UCLA alumnus, Robert F. Maguire III has had a distinguished record of civic and community service, including directorships and trusteeships of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Performing Arts Center, the Music Center, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, the UCLA Foundation, St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, and the Urban Land Institute.
Mr. Maguire’s interest in urban life has also led to his involvement in such groups as the Aspen Institute, the Nature Conservancy, and the Dean’s Council of the UCLA School of Architecture and Urban Planning.
In 1960, after receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science from UCLA, Mr. Maguire joined Security Pacific National Bank, progressing to senior loan officer and working with many of the country’s largest corporations and real estate developers.
In 1965, Mr. Maguire founded the firm which today ranks among the nation’s largest commercial builders. Recent Maguire Thomas projects include Commerce Square in Philadelphia, an office complex in Minneapolis, Westlake/Southlake Business Campus in Dallas, and Plaza Las Fuentes in Pasadena, in addition to their extensive work in downtown Los Angeles.
Mr. Maguire’s finance background brings to large-scale development an innovative approach that emphasizes the financial impact on a relocating corporation. A Maguire Thomas corporate relocation plan often involves a joint venture partnership with a major tenant.
Maguire Thomas Partners specializes in the development of major corporate headquarters buildings with retail, restaurant, and other mixed-use elements and public spaces such as the Court at Wells Fargo Center, downtown L.A.’s most popular gathering spot. Under Mr. Maguire’s direction, the firm has become noted for the architectural distinction of its projects.
James A. Thomas, a native of Pembroke, North Carolina, grew up in Cleveland. A member of the Ohio and California State Bars and the Los Angeles County, Beverly Hills, and San Fernando Valley Bar Association, he is also a Certified Tax Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization. He is active in a wide variety of civic, community, and professional organizations, and has authored numerous articles and lectured throughout the country on real estate law and federal income tax.
Mr. Thomas received his B.A. degree in economics with honors from Baldwin-Wallace College in 1959, and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Juris Doctor degree from Cleveland State Law School in 1963. He was editor-in-chief of the Cleveland State Law Review in 1962-63.
Subsequently, Mr. Thomas served as trial lawyer in the Chief Counsel’s office of the Internal Revenue Service in Cleveland, Seattle, and Los Angeles, and became a partner in two prominent Los Angeles law firms.
Prior to devoting his full time efforts to development, Mr. Thomas was widely recognized for his tax expertise and served as a key business advisor and legal counsel to Mr. Maguire for many years.
Mr. Maguire and Mr. Thomas are clearly committed to the Central Business District. In conferring this award, the Central City Association recognizes their record of thoughtful, responsive development and their rare breadth of civic vision.
LEADERSHIP AND ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
FACTS ABOUT THE WINNERS
RICHARD J. RIORDAN: Partner in the law firm of Riordan & McKinzie, Richard J. (Dick) Riordan has long championed a wide range of social causes, including education, urban public open spaces, and many programs for aiding the homeless. In seeking a better life for central city’s residents, he has been a selfless donor of both time and money.
A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Michigan Law School, Mr. Riordan’s various Bar Association memberships include the American, California, and Los Angeles Bars. His firm specializes in corporate securities law.
His civic and charitable positions include commissioner of the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission and the Memorial Coliseum Commission; a director of the Children’s Institute International, the Greater Los Angeles United Way, the International Medical Corps, and the UCLA Foundation; a trustee of the National History Museum of Los Angeles; and trustee and chairman of the R. and R. Foundation.
Mr. Riordan’s business interests include directorships of Comarco, Inc., Convergent Technologies, 1st Business Bank, The Foothill Group, Lawbar Petroleum, Mattel, Pauley Petroleum, Transamerica Cash Reserve, Transamerica Income Shares, and Transtechnology Corp.
ANDREA L. VAN DE KAMP: As chairwoman of the Government Relations Committee of the Central City Association, Andrea Van de Kamp serves a vital public policy role, speaking out on such issues as transportation, public safety, economic development, housing, infrastructure and urban design. She has been a key figure in promoting the pedestrianization of downtown Los Angeles, and her advocacy efforts have greatly enhanced the effectiveness of the Mayor’s office, the City Council, and other city departments and agencies.
Holder of a B.A. from Michigan State University and a M.A. from the Teachers College of Columbia University, she has had a 20 year career in the fields of administration, fundraising, budgeting, community relations and public policy for an variety of educational, non-profit and corporate institutions. In 1987 she became President and CEO of Independent Colleges of Southern California.
Among her many community service activities, Ms. Van de Kamp is Chairwoman of the L.A. Arts Task Force; Vice-Chairwoman of the California International Arts Foundation; a director of the Music Center Operating Company, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and KCET; advisory board member of the Junior League of Los Angeles and the Santa Monica Hospital Rape Treatment Center; and a board member of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. Her membership in professional organizations includes Women in Public Affairs, Independent College Funds of America, and the Los Angeles Public Affairs Officers Association, of which she is chairwoman.
LARRY E. KIRK: General Manager of the Los Angeles Hilton and Towers, Larry Kirk has been a prime mover in the development of the Los Angeles Convention Center’s new booking policy. This policy, designed to attract major national and international shows, will contribute over one half billion dollars of new business to the Los Angeles economy. Mr. Kirk was also instrumental in assembling the financial package for the expansion of the Convention Center.
A native of Kentucky, he attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana and the University of Florida. He began his career with Hilton in 1961 in the sales department of the Palmer House in Chicago, becoming General Manager of the Los Angeles Hilton (now known as the Los Angeles Hilton and Towers), in 1985.
Mr. Kirk is currently active with the Central City Association (Executive Committee, Board of Directors), the Greater Los Angeles Visitors and Convention Bureau (Executive Committee, Search Committee, Nominating Committee, Management Council), and the Mayor’s Task Force Committee (Convention Center Booking Policy, Convention Bureau Audit).
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