Los Angeles City Hall, Art Deco government building in Downtown Los Angeles, United States
Los Angeles City Hall is a 32-story administrative building in the center of Downtown Los Angeles that rises 138 meters (453 feet) above street level with a terracotta and granite facade. The structure combines a rectangular base with a setback shaft and an octagonal pyramidal tower that terminates in a lantern at the summit.
Designed by John Parkinson, John C. Austin and Albert C. Martin Sr., Los Angeles City Hall was completed in 1928 and dedicated on April 26 of that year. A 1905 ordinance capped most buildings at 150 feet, but the 454-foot City Hall was exempt as a public building. It was the tallest building in Los Angeles from 1928 until 1966, when Union Bank Plaza was topped off.
The tower's concrete was mixed with sand from all 58 California counties and water from its 21 historical missions. Since 1940 an image of City Hall has appeared on Los Angeles Police Department badges. The 27th-floor Mayor Tom Bradley Room, with tall square columns, is used for ceremonies.
An observation area on the 27th floor opens on weekdays and allows visitors to look across downtown and out to the surrounding mountains. Security screening at the entrance operates similar to airports, so plan enough time for access.
Engineers placed the building on isolators between 1998 and 2001 that separate it from the foundation and allow it to move up to 53 centimeters (21 inches) in any direction during strong earthquakes. This technique makes it the tallest seismically isolated structure worldwide and allows the tower to survive intense ground motion.
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