The Union Commerce Center (UCC), a joint venture between Clarion Partners and Real Estate Development Associates (REDA), partnered with local Los Angeles-based artist Daniel Antelo to complete a large-scale mural that wraps around a 500,000-gallon water tower, which serves the property's fire sprinkler system.
Located at 3690 E. Union Pacific Avenue in East Los Angeles, the UCC is a state-of-the-art 250,000 square foot industrial building with a 36-foot clear height, 35 dock-high doors, an ESFR K-25 sprinkler system, skylights, wide column spacing, and ample expandable power. The property covers 11 acres with 41 trailer stalls and a large water tower at the intersection of Noakes Street and Calzona Street. As the UCC water tower has high visibility throughout the community, Clarion Partners and REDA saw an opportunity to transform the blank structure into vibrant public art.
The UCC commissioned Downtown Daniel (Daniel Antelo), a local artist with a deep connection with the East LA/Boyle Heights neighborhood, who specializes in producing large-scale oil paint murals and canvasses to bring the water tank mural to life. Standing at 35-foot tall and 170-foot wide, the hand-painted UCC Water Tower mural is a unique addition to the neighborhood that honors Los Angeles' cityscape and heritage.
Chadwick Manista, Principal at REDA, commented: "When we started working on Union Commerce Center, it was obvious right away how much the Boyle Heights community values public art. Our project entitlements didn't require us to include an art installation, but we were open to the idea if the right opportunity came along. Then we found out we needed to build a half-million-gallon water tank for fire safety, and we thought, 'Why not make it a canvas?'"
Charles Menne, Vice President at Clarion Partners, shared: “We are absolutely thrilled to have Daniel Antelo bring his creativity and talent to our newest industrial development with REDA. The water tower will stand as a landmark for the community, and Daniel's work will transform it into a stunning symbol of art and innovation. This collaboration truly reflects our commitment to making this development not just functional, but a memorable and vibrant part of the community."
Downtown Daniel added: “This mural is deeply personal for me, as my family has roots in this area that go back generations. My grandmother lived just a few blocks from here, and her stories of East LA are woven into my own identity. Through this mural, I wanted to honor the history and resilience of the community that shaped my family and me, creating something that speaks to the strength and spirit of this neighborhood."