This 73-story skyscraper was originally known as the Library Tower because of its physical and historical connection with the Central Library, located across the street. Read more at losangeles1.one.
This building is the third tallest in California, the second tallest in Los Angeles and the fifteenth tallest in the United States. It is also the third tallest building west of the Mississippi River after the Salesforce Tower and Wilshire Grand Center.Â
Project of the Building
The project was developed by the Maguire Partners company, which acquired air rights to the historic library to increase the tower’s height. This purchase also saved the library from demolition and provided funding for its restoration and expansion.
Henry N. Cobb, from the globally known firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, designed the building. It had to complement the library, not overshadow it. Based on concentric geometry, the circular-shaped building has four floors leading up to a glass crown that shines at night like a beacon.
The light cladding and bright green glass sharply contrast with the darker colors of the surrounding buildings. The abundance of materials, stylized Art Deco images and elegant design represent elements of late 20th-century corporate design.
This is the third tallest building ever constructed in a high seismic zone. It was designed to withstand an 8.3 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale. The central structure of the building has a frame reinforced in two directions. One of its main highlights is a viewing platform with a transparent glass slide between the 69th and 70th floors.
Reconstruction of the Building
In downtown Los Angeles, Silverstein Properties spearheaded a far-reaching reconstruction project. They planned to transform U.S. Bank Tower into a hub of modern business and cooperation. The goal of the ambitious renovation is to provide more dynamic and shared workspaces and amenities to meet the needs of prospering businesses in the high-tech, fintech, legal and business sectors.
The reconstruction project of U.S. Bank Tower has truly revitalized this iconic tower. The fusion of creativity and corporate efficiency, along with various amenities, has taken this building to a new level. As the center of Los Angeles continues to grow, U.S. Bank Tower stands as a guiding light attracting enterprises seeking exceptional workplaces in the heart of the dynamic city.
Tenants in the building can relax on the newly renovated 54th floor, equipped with couches and lounges. They can warm up by the fireplace, view various works of art, from 8-millimeter film cameras and projectors to vintage movie posters or simply enjoy the view of the city center. There is also a boutique center that combines form and functionality, creating the perfect atmosphere for work and leisure.
On this floor, there are rooms for holding events and conferences, co-working spaces, meeting and presentation rooms and lounge areas.
A few years after the coronavirus pandemic forced most office building owners to close their doors, the office market in the city center has still not fully recovered. Other segments of the city, such as tourism, hospitality and residential occupancy, have either recovered or exceeded their pre-pandemic levels. However, the development of offices lags far behind.
What’s inside the building?
From its opening until June 2016, U.S. Bank Tower was an office building that did not have hotels or an observation deck until a new multi-level observatory was opened to the public. The plan for this new annex was first proposed by the building’s new owner, OUE Ltd, in 2014. This allows investors to earn more money as the building’s rent is quite low, which is why its former owner decided to sell it.
Most of the offices in U.S. Bank Tower are not connected to the banking system. The skyscraper is only accessible by pass, and there are no excursions available inside. The only way to see the interiors is to dine in one of the several restaurants located in the building. But nothing prevents you from admiring the sharp lines of the facades. The Bank Tower is visible from almost any point in Los Angeles. More information about the establishments in the city that are worth visiting can be found here.
The tower also serves as an icon of the city. With its lighting, new trends are reflected on the building’s facade at night. The crown is usually illuminated with white light and on special occasions, such as festivals or events, it shines with different colors. The Empire State Building has a similar peculiarity.
Observation deck
A new two-story observation deck called Skyspace was opened in June 2016. Before that, the tower was solely used as an office building for tenants and was closed to tourists.
In July 2014, the new owner of the tower decided to convert the office spaces on the 69th to the 71st floors into viewing platforms and a restaurant.
The 69th and 70th floors of the tower were redesigned into an observation deck, including an open space on the 69th floor. On the 71st floor, there is a panoramic restaurant with a 360-degree view. It is not cheap. The main reason for the high price is that there are open areas in the building where tourists can feel the airflow at high altitudes.
The building owners have prepared a real surprise for thrill-seekers. From the outer part, a transparent glass tube “grows” directly from the windows of the 70th floor. Curving around the facade, it descends to the 69th floor. Anyone willing can ride in it on a rubber mat. It will make you feel as if you were flying in the sky over a huge city for a full 3 seconds.
There are long queues for this attraction. One angry visitor complained that he had to wait an hour and a half in line to get to the slide and then another 40 minutes to exit the building.
Movies that were filmed in the bank building
U.S. Bank Tower is one of the most prominent landmarks in Los Angeles. The tower has appeared in dozens of films, TV shows and video games.
- Independence Day. An alien craft hovers over the U.S. Bank building, attracting a crowd of people who want to go up to the top of the tower to express hospitality. But the spaceship starts bombarding the entire building.
- Dragon War. A large snake chases a man and a woman to the Bank Tower. In the movie, the snake got tangled around the tower.
- Terminator. The story unfolds in Los Angeles, which is devastated and filled with machines.
- 2012. Los Angeles was hit by a violent earthquake that destroyed numerous streets and buildings, including U.S. Bank Tower, which appeared in a scene for a few seconds.
- The Island. Two clones escaped from a terrible cloning facility and arrived in a city that is the Los Angeles of the future. U.S. Bank Tower stands out among other skyscrapers, many of which are taller than the Bank building.
- The Day After Tomorrow. The film shows a hurricane that first hit Los Angeles and then New York. The Bank Tower can be seen in one scene.
- Rush Hour 2. Inspector Lee received a package with a bomb at U.S. Bank Tower. He and his partner rushed to the roof to get rid of the box but discovered it was a false alarm.