Kaiser Center, Modernist skyscraper in Downtown Oakland, United States
Kaiser Center is a 28-story modern tower located beside Lakeside Drive in Oakland. The building features a curved glass exterior and is supported by substantial aluminum columns that define its structural character.
The tower was completed in 1960 and became Oakland's tallest building as well as the largest office complex west of the Rocky Mountains. It marked a turning point for the city's postwar growth and economic development.
The building displays postwar modern design through its curved glass envelope and aluminum panels that refract light in different ways. Visitors notice how the reflective facade mirrors the lake and sky, making the structure appear different depending on the time of day.
A five-story parking structure within the building offers convenient spaces for visitors. A large landscaped rooftop garden provides a peaceful spot to sit and enjoy views of the surrounding neighborhood.
The exterior cladding was finished with dolomitic stone quarried from sites operated by the Kaiser industrial company. This material gives the structure its distinctive rough surface texture that many visitors overlook.
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