Los Angeles is one of the largest cities in America with some of the tallest buildings in the country. Its skyline is ranked 1st in the Pacific Coast region and 5th in the United States. The city went through a large building boom during 1960-90 which resulted in the completion of 23 of its tallest buildings. As of January 2020, the city has over 754 high rise buildings over 100ft (30m). Here is the list of 15 tallest buildings in Los Angeles:
1. Wilshire Grand Center | Tallest buildings in Los Angeles
The 1,100-foot (335.3m) skyscraper is the tallest building in Los Angeles, California, and the 14th tallest in the United States. Designed by the local firm AC Martin, the Wilshire Grand Centre surpasses the U.S. Bank Tower by 82ft (25m). The glass-clad skyscraper, with its 73 storeys includes retail and office spaces, and an InterContinental Hotel comprising 900 rooms and suites. Construction of the project, which began in 2014, is estimated to cost $1.2 billion.
2. US Bank Tower | Los Angeles Tallest Buildings
Formerly known as the Library Tower, the US Bank Tower, with 73 floors ranks second, among the tallest buildings in Los Angeles. At 1,018-foot (310.3m) height, it is the 15th tallest building in the United States. Designed by architects Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and Ellerbe Becket, the building is the third – tallest building in a major active seismic region with its structure designed to resist an earthquake of 8.3 on the Richter scale.
3. AON Center | California Tallest Buildings
Aon Center, formerly known as the United California Bank Building, then the First Interstate Tower, is the third tallest building in Los Angeles and the 58th tallest in the United States. With 62-stories, 860-foot (260m) high, the rectangular bronze-clad building is remarkably slender for a skyscraper in a seismically active area. Designed by Charles Luckman, when built, it was the tallest building, until the US Bank Tower was built. It has five floors below the ground and 30 elevators (or lifts) for its vertical transportation.
4. Two California Plaza | California Tallest Buildings
Two California Plaza is the fourth tallest building in Los Angeles, rising to 750 feet (230m) with 54 floors. Designed by Arthur Erickson Architects and AC Martin Partners, the building is part of the California Plaza project consisting of two unique skyscrapers, One California Plaza and Two California Plaza. Also known as the Deloitte & Touch building, it serves as a commercial & learning center for the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) & Colburn School of Performing Arts.
5. Gas Company Tower | Tallest buildings in Los Angeles
The Gas Company Tower, also known as the SoCal Gas, is the fifth tallest building in Los Angeles and the 77th tallest in the United States. The 52-floor building, reaching up to a height of 749ft (228.3m) serves as the headquarters for the Southern California Gas Company. Designed by architects Richard Keating, Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, the building has a series of cliff-like setbacks and inverted corners. With nine floors located underground, the building has 28 elevators for vertical transportation.
6. Bank of America Plaza | Los Angeles Tallest Buildings
Bank of America Plaza, the sixth tallest building in Los Angeles and the 92nd tallest building in the United States, was known as the Security Pacific Plaza as it housed the headquarters of the Security Pacific National bank along with the Capital Group Companies and Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton. With a height of 735ft (224 m), the four sides of the building each faced true cardinal directions, a unique quality at the time it was built. The security pacific Bank logo was replaced with the Bank of America when they acquired the skyscraper building. It is also known for the ‘Four Arches’ sculpture by Alexander Calder at the front of its main entrance.
7. 777 Tower | California Tallest Buildings
Originally known as Citicorp Center, and also known as Pelli Tower, the 777 Tower at 725ft (221m) height, is the seventh tallest building in Los Angeles. Designed by Cesar Pelli, the exterior of this 52-story high office building is clad with sculpted white metal and glass.
8. Wells Fargo Tower
Wells Fargo Tower (Tower 1) is part of the twin tower skyscraper complex Wells Fargo Center. The South and North Towers are joined by a three-story glass atrium. Apart from the various offices, a branch of the Wells Fargo History Museum is located at the Centre. At 720 ft (220m), it is the eighth tallest building in Los Angeles and the 92nd tallest building in the United States.
9. Figueroa at Wilshire
Formerly known as the Sanwa Bank Plaza, Figueroa at Wilshire is the ninth tallest building in Los Angeles and the 107th tallest building in the United States. Designed by Albert C. Martin & Associates, this 53-floor 717ft (218.5m) tall building was constructed from 1988 to 1990 on the site of the former St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral.
10. City National Tower | Tallest buildings in Los Angeles
The City National Tower together with the Paul Hastings tower stands as the tallest twin tower in Los Angeles. When built, it was the tallest twin towers in the world until the completion of the World Trade Center in New York City. Formerly known as the Bank of America Tower, it houses various commercial offices on its 52 floors including the City National Bank. Designed by Albert C. Martin & Associates, at a height of 700ft (213.3 m), it has 64 elevators (lifts) for vertical transportation.
11. Paul Hastings Tower | Tallest buildings in Los Angeles
The Paul Hastings tower together with the City National Tower stands as the tallest twin tower in Los Angeles. When built, it was the tallest twin towers in the world, until the completion of the World Trade Center in New York City. The current skyscraper used to house the headquarters for the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO). Designed by Albert C. Martin & Associates, at a height of 700ft (213.3 m), it has 64 elevators (lifts) for vertical transportation.
12. Oceanwide Plaza | Los Angeles Tallest Buildings
The Oceanwide Plaza with three towers of residential and retail is still under construction in Los Angeles, California. It is set to be the city’s tallest residential tower and the twelfth tallest tower of Los Angeles with a height of 677ft (206.4m). Designed by CallisonRTKL, the complex will accommodate a five-star Park Hyatt Hotel with interiors by Studio Munge, along with 504 residences and a collection of retailers and restaurants. Construction started in 2015; due to various reasons the completion date is ambiguous.
13. L.A. Live Hotel & Condominiums (The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles) | California Tallest Buildings
The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, is part of the L.A. Live entertainment complex and is the thirteenth tallest building in Los Angeles at a height of 667ft (203m). Designed by Gensler, the architectural design stems from a ‘geometric pattern of glittering, blue-tinted glass’. A uniquely patterned façade was created by installing thirty-four different types of glass.
14. Metropolis Tower D | Los Angeles Tallest Buildings
Metropolis is a residential and retail complex composed of four towers in Los Angeles, California. With one 18-floor Hotel Indigo building, the other three towers are primarily residential and retail. Tower IV (D) is the tallest of the four at 647ft (197m). The towers replaced a parking lot in 2014.
15. 820 Olive | Tallest buildings in Los Angeles
820 Olive, also known as 825 South Hill is a 636ft (194m) tall residential and retail tower. It is the tallest residential tower in California with 49 floors. Designed by Chris Dikeakos Architects, the tower houses 516 residential units.
