Historic Venice Post Office Transforms Into a Creative Haven

The Lighthouse modernizes a California landmark into a collaborative workspace for creators

Words by: Stephanie Chen • Photos courtesy of the Lighthouse

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Retail + Commercial

June 12, 2025

Historic Venice Post Office Transforms Into a Creative Haven

The Lighthouse modernizes a California landmark into a collaborative workspace for creators

Words by: Stephanie Chen • Photos courtesy of the Lighthouse

Located a block from California’s Venice Beach Boardwalk, the Lighthouse breathes new life into the historic Venice Post Office, originally built in 1939 as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

The ground floor offers open workspaces, private offices, meeting rooms, a central café, living rooms, and a theater in a light, open environment meant to encourage interaction.

In contrast, the basement exudes a darker, industrial aesthetic, and houses the property’s production facilities such as podcast studios, a test kitchen, photo and music studios, and an analog studio.

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Form meets function at the Lighthouse

Designed by Warkentin Associates, the 22,500-square-foot project combines meticulous historical preservation with contemporary design to create a dynamic two-floor campus tailored to creators.

The architectural style draws on Bauhaus principles, emphasizing functional design through a blend of analog and digital environments. A simple and functional material palette incorporating unadorned metals, wood, glass, and concrete. Pops of color appear through furniture, rugs, and accessories, while private office partitions feature muted green forbo panels.

Standout art pieces include Edward Biberman’s monumental 1941 painting Abbot Kinney and the Story of Venice, which is on display in historic lobby, and a site-specific rubber light installation by Brian Thoreen in the basement level.

the lighthouse creative collaborative coworking space venice beach post office workspace private office meeting rooms theater studios industrial design orange banquet

the lighthouse creative collaborative coworking space venice beach post office workspace private office meeting rooms theater studios industrial design

the lighthouse creative collaborative coworking space venice beach post office workspace private office meeting rooms theater studios industrial design test kitchen

the lighthouse creative collaborative coworking space venice beach post office workspace private office meeting rooms theater studios industrial design