George Stevens Annex City Hall (East Annex)

George Stevens became Torrance's first city manager in 1948 after the City adopted a charter creating the position. As the first Torrance city manager, George Stevens created the framework for the City's organization, its financial structure, personnel system, and community development. Trained as a civil engineer, he laid out most of the sewer systems and storm drains that serve Torrance today. He facilitated the construction of many of the City's parks, fire stations and public facilities. He was also instrumental in the acquisition of the airport.

His tenure saw rapid growth that included the construction of the Del Amo Fashion Center, the widening of Hawthorne Boulevard, and the annexation of the Victor Precinct and the El Nido area. During these years, more than 75 percent of today's housing stock was built. When he started, Torrance had 17,500 residents, which grew to more than 100,000 by the time he retired. The City's ability to manage its rapid growth under Stevens' management led to the naming of Torrance as an "All American City" by Look magazine in 1957.

In the mid 1950s, George Stevens led a bold plan to acquire the land for the Torrance Civic Center and move City facilities to the new location. By 1956, the new City Hall, police headquarters and Civic Center pool (The Plunge) were completed.