Like the Harbor Building in Hancock Park, the Occidental Petroleum building exemplifies architect Claud Beelman's use of white marble with polished metal. The building served as international headquarters for the petroleum company (also known as Oxy), which moved its headquarters to Houston in 2014. 

The adjacent Hammer Museum was founded by Occidental's former chairman, Dr. Armand Hammer, and financed by by the corporation. The museum building was artfully designed for the corner of the site by Edward Larrabee Barnes.

The museum opened in 1990, featuring traveling exhibitions and Dr. Hammer’s collections of works by the old masters. Dr. Hammer passed away in December of that year, only three weeks after the museum opened.

In 1994, the museum finalized a partnership with nearby UCLA. UCLA to took on the museum's management and operations, relocating its collections and selected staff.

Today, the Hammer is known for its innovative programming and public outreach, much of it focused on the great art produced in Los Angeles.