On June 23, the Hollywood Art Collective honored film icon and groundbreaking actress Rita Moreno with a building in her name on Schrader Boulevard.

The building is part of a bigger collection of buildings, the Entertainment Community Fund’s Hollywood Art Collective complex, and will be home to the Cicely Tyson building as well. The building is named for the Miss Jane Pittman actress and will be dedicated to low-income housing for Hollywood residents.

In response to the honor, Moreno noted that she did two things when asked if the Art Collective could use her name on their building. She said she “almost peed” and nearly “fell down on the floor”.  She “can’t believe it,” and humbly explained she wanted to ask why they had picked her of all people, but figured that question would be “kind of rude” and if they picked her that “there was something wonderful” about herself she must need to be reminded of.

Moreno also recalled the final time she saw Tyson before she passed, back when the two of them visited the White House, and took a moment to reminisce in her strong energy. Moreno spoke warmly and called Tyson a “so gorgeous” and a “beautiful woman.”

The complex is scheduled to open next summer in 2023 at 1630 Schrader Boulevard.