LOS ANGELES | Library Tower | 1,018 FT / 310 M | 73 FLOORS | 1988

[plinko]

Originally conceived as the tallest building in a seismic zone 4, Maguire Thomas Partners traded air rights to the much delapitated LA Central Library to develop two fabulous skyscraping architectural dynamos: the Library Tower and the Gas Company Tower.

The Library Tower (orginally First Interstate World Center) was designed by Henry Cobb of PeiCobbFreed. The design is based on a series of overlapped squares inscribed within circles. The resulting shapes, along with certain setbacks create a fantastically intricate facade culminating in a full glass star-shaped crown.

The crown is brightly lit white most days, but also other color schemes for holidays and sports.

The building is across the street from Bertram Goodhue's LA Central Library (a true gem) and wedged between the deco classic Edison Building and Lawrence Halprin's Bunker Hill Steps.

In 200(4)? US Bank became a large tenant in the building and also bought naming rights. They bastardized the crown with not only a logo, but also a name plate which is highly unfortunate looking. It may now be called the US Bank Tower...but will likely always be known as the Library Tower.

So I share my photos from over the years...

How's this for old skool? Check the First Interstate logo at the top (removed in 1992 when Wells Fargo took over FI)