Capitol Records Building, Circular high-rise building in Hollywood, United States.
The Capitol Records Building is a cylindrical high-rise with 13 floors in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, marked by cantilevered sections of white concrete. The round structure rises 67 m (220 ft) above street level and dominates the surrounding lower buildings in the area.
Architect Welton Becket designed this tower in 1956 as the first round office building in the world, using elements of Googie architecture. The structure was built during the postwar period, when Los Angeles was becoming a center for the entertainment industry.
The tower houses recording studios used by artists from around the world, with special echo chambers that create a characteristic sound. Guitarist Les Paul developed these underground echo rooms, which remain in operation today.
Visitors can view the building from the street, as it is an active office building and access to the interior is limited. The best view is from the surrounding streets, from which the shape and height of the tower are clearly visible.
A light on the roof continuously transmits the word Hollywood in Morse code and serves as a signal in the entertainment district. This transmission has been running without interruption for decades and is visible at night.
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