Taj Mahal
Leisure World developer Ross W. Cortese dubbed his Rossmoor corporate headquarters in Laguna Hills the Taj Mahal. The neoclassical contemporary building was designed by Burke, Kober and Nicolais, an architectural and engineering firm that did work on Leisure World projects in Laguna Hills and Seal Beach as well as numerous prominent office building and shopping centers in Los Angeles and Orange counties. When it was built in 1964, the building provided office space for top officials of the nearby Leisure World retirement village as well as Cortese’s corporate operations. It was sold in September, 1968, when an economic slowdown forced liquidation of some of Rossmoor’s holdings. It passed through several corporate hands before being remodeled into medical offices in 2011.
Laguna Hills, Orange County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt