First American Financial to Keep HQ Look in New Spot
- Share via
Santa Ana-based title giant First American Financial Corp. plans to move its trademark early-American headquarters to a new location in 18 months.
The company is in final negotiations to purchase land beside the Costa Mesa Freeway near MacArthur Boulevard for a three-building complex totaling 200,000 square feet, First American President Parker Kennedy said.
First American outgrew its location in Santa Ana after embarking on a two-year buying spree during which it acquired a company nearly every month. This move will allow First American to transfer its 500 employees from several facilities into three buildings that will be arranged around a courtyard.
The red brick buildings, complete with columns, will be a sharp contrast to nearby modern glass high-rises of Hutton Center and South Coast Metro in Costa Mesa. But Kennedy says the look is an important part of the company’s identity. “We’ve had that style since the 1960s and lots of our offices out there have that style, so it was appropriate for the home office to keep it,” he said.
The move would be bad news for golfers, however. The building site is now home to the MacArthur Place driving range.
Melinda Fulmer covers real estate for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-7832.
Inside the business of entertainment
The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
