Bradbury Building, Renaissance Revival office building in Downtown Los Angeles, United States
The Bradbury Building is an office building in Renaissance Revival style located in Downtown Los Angeles, California. The central atrium extends across five floors and is lit by a large glass ceiling, while marble staircases, wrought iron railings, and open-cage elevators define the interior.
The building was completed in 1893 following designs by architect George Wyman, who originally worked as a draftsman for Sumner Hunt. Lewis Bradbury died shortly after construction began, and the finished structure became one of the earliest examples of steel-frame construction in Los Angeles.
The name honors gold mining entrepreneur Lewis Bradbury, whose vision of a modern office building with an open interior space was unusual for the late 1800s. Today the building houses both government offices and private tenants who work in the historical spaces and use the central atrium as a gathering point.
The building is located at 304 South Broadway and is open to visitors during daytime hours who can explore the ground floor. The cast-iron railings and historical elevators are still in operation, so visitors should move carefully through the atrium.
Architect George Wyman is said to have designed the atrium layout after a spiritualist session with his deceased brother Mark. The building has served as a filming location for dozens of movies, including the 1982 science fiction classic Blade Runner.
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