Commercial Exchange Building, Historic office building in Downtown Los Angeles, United States
The Commercial Exchange Building is a 13-story structure on West 8th Street featuring one of Los Angeles' largest neon signs. The building stands out for its architectural design and prominent presence in the downtown landscape.
The building was constructed in 1924 by the architectural firm Walker and Eisen. In 1935, a remarkable modification took place when the western section was relocated to accommodate street widening.
The building once housed the publishing office of Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of Tarzan, and also served as headquarters for the Owl Drug Company. These tenants shaped the character of the place during its early decades.
The building stands at the corner of Olive and 8th Streets in Downtown Los Angeles, and has served as the Freehand Los Angeles Hotel since June 2017. It was vacant for two decades before its 2014 acquisition and conversion. The exterior carries one of the tallest neon signs in Los Angeles, best seen from the street.
The 1935 street-widening cut cost $60,000, as the Los Angeles Times reported that year. Engineers removed a 10-foot slice from the middle of the 13-story building and rejoined the halves by sliding the western portion eastward, a manoeuvre that kept the structure standing on Olive Street.
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