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Built:
1990- 1992
Designed by: Arthur Erickson Architects
Type: Skyscraper
Stories: 54
Location: 350 South Grand Avenue
City: Los Angeles
State: California
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wo California Plaza is the big brother of One California plaza and one of the most visible landmarks in Los Angeles. But as in many developments, one would be incomplete without the other.
Both One and Two California Plaza share the same basic physical characteristics -- a blue glass box incompletely wrapped by a darker blue extrusion. In the case of Two California Plaza, the extrusion wraps around only one corner of the building, but there are two layers of it, which creates a second setback. The contrasting shades of blue add visual interest while the projection allows for more corner offices, interesting curves, and ultimately a setback near the top of the building.
Adding to the asymmetry is a black band on a mechanical floor about a quarter of the way up. This could have been easily hidden and blended with the rest of the building, but leaving it exposed provides yet another point of interest, and a device to lead wandering eyes laterally around the curve of the building, instead of straight to its top.
Maguire Properties is particularly proud of the architectural finishes in this skyscraper, noting that the exterior panels at the lower levels are flame cut Lac Du Bonnet granite panels inlaid with green Quartzite. Meanwhile, the lobby is polished, flame cut Brazilian San duba granite for the floors, walls, and columns. Further, the building's artwork is provided and changed regularly by the nearby Museum of Contemporary Art.
**The fountains were designed by WET Design.
**California Plaza's water stage is made of Borington green slate.
**The land this building is on is actually owned by Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency.
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