Built: 1928 Designed by: Austin, Parkinson, and Martin Type: Government Building Stories: 32 Maximum Height: 454 feet / 138 meters Location: 200 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, United States
F ilm buffs will instantly recognize this building from the countless movies it's played a part in. It was blown up in "War of the Worlds." It was the location of the <i>Daily Planet</i> newspaper for Superman's television run. And was where Friday kept his offices in the Dragnet series. However, this building isn't only symbolic to Tinseltown. It has meaning for every part of the Golden State. That's because the concrete for the 28-story structure was formed from sand from each of California's 58 counties and water from its 21 missions.
Los Angeles is known for its earthquakes, and the designers kept that in mind during construction. Each floor of the 454-foot building is separated by a flexible compression zone. The result not unlike the human spine in its ability to twist and shake and still return to its original form.
Hélios J. Rodrigues
Five stars.
Hélios J. Rodrigues