Metropolitan Building

The Metropolitan Building occupies the corner of West 5th Street and South Broadway in Los Angeles. It features marble interior elements and ornamental elevator doors, with retail spaces on the ground floor and residential lofts above.

The building was completed in 1913, replacing the Mueller Building that previously occupied the site. Its construction helped establish Broadway as Los Angeles's largest shopping district.

The building's marble interior and ornate elevators reflect the early 1900s taste for luxury and craftsmanship in downtown Los Angeles. Visitors walking through notice details like the decorative metalwork and rich finishes that made this a prestigious address for both businesses and the library that once called it home.

The building sits on a busy downtown corner where you can easily walk around and explore the ground-floor retail areas. The street-level accessibility and multiple entrances make it simple to view the architectural features from the sidewalk.

From 1913 to 1926, the building housed the Los Angeles Public Library across four floors, making it a cultural hub. The architects incorporated skylights and extra floor space specifically to accommodate the library's operational needs.

Location: California

Inception: January 1, 1913

Architects: The Parkinsons

Address: 5th Street

GPS coordinates: 34.04860,-118.25100

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:44