California Plaza
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Maguire Plaza
Overview
This is a complex of 2 tall buildings with 1 big plaza. There are shops on both towers lower floors, while there is a public fountain on the plaza. These are 2 tall office buildings by different height. This is the largest public plaza in downtown Los Angeles (California).
One California Plaza
Overview
Though is it one of the city's most visible skyscrapers, One California Plaza is the little brother of Two California plaza. But as in many developments, one would be incomplete without the other.
Both One and Two California Plaza share the same basic physical characteristics -- a blue glass box incompletely wrapped around opposing corners by a darker blue extrusion. Think of it as two boxes merging with one another, and their farthest corners rounded off. The contrasting shades of blue add visual interest while the projection allows for more corner offices, interesting curves, and ultimately a setback near the top of the building.
Adding to the asymmetry is a black band on a mechanical floor about a quarter of the way up. This could have been easily hidden and blended with the rest of the building, but leaving it exposed provides yet another point of interest, and a device to lead wandering eyes laterally around the curve of the building, instead of straight to its top.
Facts
- Architecture firm: Arthur Erickson Architects
- Architecture firm: Gruen Associates
- Architecture firm: Kamnitzer & Cotton
- Developer: Bunker Hill Associates
- The fountains were designed by WET Design.
- California Plaza's water stage is made of Borington green slate.
- The land this building is on is actually owned by Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency.
Statistics
- Floor space: 991,836 square feet
- Stories above ground: 42
- Stories below ground: 5
- Parking: 1,313 spaces
- Elevators: 25
News
- 1983: The city leases this land to the developer for 99 years.
- 1989: This building is named BOMA Building of the year.
- 2003: Metropolitan Life Insurance sells this building to Maguire Properties for $225 million.
Two California Plaza
Overview
Two California Plaza is the big brother of One California plaza and one of the most visible landmarks in Los Angeles. But as in many developments, one would be incomplete without the other.
Both One and Two California Plaza share the same basic physical characteristics -- a blue glass box incompletely wrapped by a darker blue extrusion. In the case of Two California Plaza, the extrusion wraps around only one corner of the building, but there are two layers of it, which creates a second setback. The contrasting shades of blue add visual interest while the projection allows for more corner offices, interesting curves, and ultimately a setback near the top of the building.
Adding to the asymmetry is a black band on a mechanical floor about a quarter of the way up. This could have been easily hidden and blended with the rest of the building, but leaving it exposed provides yet another point of interest, and a device to lead wandering eyes laterally around the curve of the building, instead of straight to its top.
Maguire Properties is particularly proud of the architectural finishes in this skyscraper, noting that the exterior panels at the lower levels are flame cut Lac Du Bonnet granite panels inlaid with green Quartzite. Meanwhile, the lobby is polished, flame cut Brazilian San duba granite for the floors, walls, and columns. Further, the building's artwork is provided and changed regularly by the nearby Museum of Contemporary Art.
Facts
- The fountains were designed by WET Design.
- California Plaza's water stage is made of Borington green slate.
- The land this building is on is actually owned by Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency.
Statistics
- Floor space: 1,329,000 square feet
- Retail space: 52,000 square feet
News
- 1997: This building is named BOMA Building of the Year.
- 2001: This building is named BOMA Building of the Year.
- 2007: Maguire Properties buys this building in a deal with 22 other properties for $2,875,000,000.
