Long Beach Architecture Week: Exploring Grey with a Splash of Color

Join us for a unique hybrid event that includes a tour of the Award Winning newly restored First Church of Christ Science building designed by celebrated Southern California Architect Elmer Grey and a fun exploration of historic color from noted color expert, Sara McLean. Wine and lite hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Be one of the first in the city to tour the newly restored First Church of Christ Science designed in the Classical Revival Style in 1913 by acclaimed California Architect Elmer Grey. Co-Owner and COO Vijay Goel will lead the tour and discuss the architect, the history of the building and the restoration process that has just earned a 2024 Long Beach Heritage Preservation Award for Adaptive Reuse. Vijay and his wife, Chef Elizabeth Goel who co-own Bite Catering Couture have restored the structure and are reopening it as a landmark event venue, 440 Elm.

After the tour, enjoy a glass of wine while color expert Sara Mclean leads us through the story of historic 20th century color trend from 1900 to the 1970s and the human patterns, behaviors, events and attitudes that shaped them. You may be interested in the color palette Elmer Grey used in his First Church of Christ Science or maybe the origins of the psychedelic colors of the 1960s. Or maybe you just want to know why your parents’ 1970s kitchen was avocado green. Join us for Sara’s talk and find out.

Elmer Grey, FAIA (April 29, 1872 – November 14, 1963) was a Los Angeles based architect who designed significant buildings across Southern California right after the turn of the twentieth century as the population exploded in California. He is considered one of the pivotal architects in Los Angeles during that period. Early in his career in California he partnered with another noted architect, Myron Hunt, to realize such notable works as the Huntington mansion in San Marino, Throop College (California Institute of Technology) and Occidental College. After the dissolution of his partnership with Hunt around 1911, Grey went on to design the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Pasadena Playhouse and three Churches of Christ Science, including 440 Elm. Grey was also noted for his domestic architecture. He designed in a variety of architectural styles including Beaux Arts, Arts & Crafts, Mission Revival, English Tudor and Classical Revival.

Sara McLean has spent her entire career in the fields of interior design, marketing and color. For many years she was the Color Marketing Manager, editor and Color Stylist at Dunn-Edwards Corporation where she focused on color creation, public relations, marketing and project management. Sara created the annual Color of the Year and Trends programs for Dunn-Edwards and developed and curated the Then, Now & Forever® collection, a series of both historically-accurate colors and contemporary colors. As a color expert and stylist, Sara has started a new blog, Indigo & Honeycomb COLOR LAB and has recently published her first book, Chromatic Chronicles: My Journey Through the World of Color, available on Amazon. Books will be available at the event for purchase.