Los Angeles has a number of instantly recognizable buildings, and this one happens to be a favorite of mine. Maybe because it’s Art Deco, maybe because it gives an air of solidity and dependability. It’s the sort of thing you want in a newspaper, which this building was designed to house. It was the new home of the LA Times under construction on the southwest corner of Spring and 1st Streets in downtown LA in 1934 ahead of its 1935 opening.
The LA Times no longer occupies the building, but it’s still there. This image is from June 2021.
Still looks great, still looks new.
Yes, and how many times do we get to say *that*?
I went inside a few times when I was working for the City of Los Angeles (the City rented some office space there at the time). The foyer is terrific, with copies of notable front pages on the walls and lots of great Art Deco ornamentation everywhere. I recall the floor, which I believe was terrazzo, was particularly nice.
I always got the feeling this building was meant to convey the message, “You’re not going to blow up THIS one!”
North west corner.
I always hated this one, not because of the building but rather the site it sits on. A work like this should be facing outward from the crest of a hill where it says “I’m your grandaddy!”.
I always liked it, too. When I was ever on jury duty downtown, you’d walk toward it on your way back to the parking lot at the end of the day.