RESTORED WILMINGTON CLOCK TOWER UNVEILED AT PORT OF LOS ANGELES

Historic Tower Repairs and Upgrades Include State-of-the-Art Lighting System

Feb. 28, 2025 – Residents, tourists and ships arriving at the Port of Los Angeles will now be greeted by a newly restored and illuminated Wilmington Clock Tower at Berth 153, the result of a $2.7 million renovation to repair water damage and structural wear-and-tear, adding a new façade, exterior lighting and modern sound system.

“The Wilmington Clock Tower is one of many iconic structures at the Port of Los Angeles that showcases our storied history and legacy in the region,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Now restored, the tower will once again be able to serve as a beacon for residents, visitors and ships coming through our Port each year.”

Using Prism RGBA color LED luminaire technology, the iconic structure’s exterior lighting will be able to change colors to coordinate with different Port and City events. The illuminated tower will be visible from several key junctures in the Port’s Main Channel and West Basin, including the Vincent Thomas Bridge, Los Angeles Cruise Terminal, Battleship IOWA, Los Angeles Maritime Museum and West Harbor.

Since the mid-20th century, the Wilmington Clock Tower has marked the entry to the Port’s Main Channel’s West Basin. The 100-foot-high structure sits at the south end of Berths 153-155. When built in the early 1950s, the berths’ eight-acre marine terminal featured one of the longest shipping sheds ever to be constructed. The Port still uses these warehouses today.

Beyond the exterior façade lighting, the extensive tower restoration involved repair of the entire tower wall assembly, including the interior and exterior finish; replacing all the exterior doors, thresholds and interior lights; repairing or replacing exterior windows, sills, balconies and stair threads; installation of a new sound system; lead and asbestos abatement; stucco and metal flashing work; various plumbing, electrical and wiring upgrades; and a new LED sign that reads “The Port of Los Angeles.” The Port began the tower restoration in 2021.