One of the most interesting buildings in Los Angeles, besides the Bradbury Building, Griffith Observatory, Union Station, and Walt Disney Concert Hall, is definitely Los Angeles City Hall. This iconic art deco or, as its architects called it, ‘American style’ monument has undoubtedly become one of the city’s best-known landmarks over the years.
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Los Angeles City Hall History
Los Angeles City Hall is the seat of government in Los Angeles and houses the mayor’s office and the rooms where the city council meets. The building was constructed in 1928 following the designs of John Parkinson, John C. Austin, and Albert C. Martin Sr. Parkinson was given the concept and design, Martin handled the structural details, and Austin coordinated the work. The interior decoration was entrusted to Austin Whittlesey, who sought to take cues from the classicism of cities such as Florence, Paris, and Alexandria but also to combine elements related to the modern film, aviation, and automobile industries.
At the time of construction, a regulation was in effect in the city that prohibited buildings taller than 150 feet. Los Angeles City Hall was therefore an exception and, at an impressive 32 stories and a height of 452 feet, it remained the tallest building in Los Angeles until 1964 when Union Bank Plaza opened.
Today, however, the building retains another important record, which is that of being the tallest building with seismic isolators in the world, thanks to the major renovations and upgrades that took place between 1998 and 2001. With these seismic specificities, Los Angeles City Hall would be able to withstand an earthquake tremor of 8.2 magnitude on the Richter scale.
Directions
Los Angeles City Hall is located at 200 Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles. The building is in the Civic Center district on the block between Main Street, Temple Street, First, and Spring Street. In the early 1900s this was the heart of the city’s financial and business district.
Reaching the building is fairly easy either by car or public transportation; you can take the subway, red or purple line, and get off at Civic Centre / Grand Park Station. A 5-minute walk through Grand Park will take you to City Hall.
If you prefer the bus, you can take:
- the A or 30 lines and get off at the 1st / Main stop on First Street
- the 92 and B lines and get off at Temple / Spring
- the 4, 33 and 45 lines and get off at Spring Street / Temple Street
Whichever line you choose, City Hall is a short walk away. As for your car, you will find several paid public parking lots nearby.
For more information read our guide on transportation in Los Angeles.
City Hall Tours and Opening Hours
Los Angeles City Hall is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Some docents offer free tours of the building between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. by reservation.
Admission is free but, as it is a government building, you will have to go through security checks so don’t forget to bring ID with you.
Information About the Observation Deck
Los Angeles City Hall is not only one of the most famous historic buildings in Los Angeles, important for both its history and its architectural structure, but it is also a great free place from which to take in the view of the City of Angels. In fact, its 27th-floor observation deck allows you to see the streets and houses of downtown LA from above, and on a clear day your gaze will be able to reach as far as Mount Wilson some 12 miles away.
For those visiting the building for the first time, it might be a bit tricky to get to the observation deck, so here’s the route I suggest you follow: once you’ve gone through security, go inside and take the elevator that will leave you on the 22nd floor, then take another one to get to the 26th floor. From here proceed on foot up the stairs and reach the 27th floor. You have arrived at the Observatory Deck, enjoy the view!
From the outside, the Observatory Deck is easily recognizable by looking at the Tom Bradley Tower since it is the floor where the elongated windows are. In case you are interested, there is also an art gallery on the 26th floor with works by Los Angeles artists.
Here are two interesting facts about this beautiful building:
- the top of the tower was designed inspired by the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, built in present-day Turkey between 353 B.C. and 350 B.C. and considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Today, unfortunately, only a few ruins remain of the mausoleum.
- the concrete used to build the tower was made using sand from the 58 different counties of Los Angeles and water from the 21 missions that were historically administered by the city.
Where to Stay in the Area
The city of Los Angeles has a wealth of hotels and accommodations to stay at during your vacation. To help you choose the best neighborhood, we have created a guide with tips and suggestions (Where to Stay in Los Angeles). If you would like to stay near Los Angeles City Hall in order to appreciate its architecture and enjoy the downtown area full of skyscrapers and important buildings such as Walt Disney Concert Hall, remember that this area is frequented by many workers and is rather quiet in the evening after office hours.
If you are traveling by car, I would suggest you avoid moving around during peak hours in the morning and late afternoon. The area is also great if you plan to visit Disneyland, which is about a half hour away, and the coast with its small towns, one of them being Santa Monica, which is about the same distance away.
