One Park Plaza | Los Angeles Conservancy
Photo courtesy Architectural Resources Group

One Park Plaza

One Park Plaza is the first of three Wilshire Boulevard high-rises designed by Anthony J. Lumsden, who served as director of design for Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall (DMJM) from 1968 to 1993.

Built for developer Realtech Co. and completed in 1971, One Park Plaza was Lumsden's first major sole-credit work, and an excellent example of the glass skin system he had developed with Cesar Pelli. This system featured a non-loadbearing glass membrane with reversed mullions that served to set designs free from the constrictions of the vertical "box," and also saved money on expensive materials. In the case of One Park Plaza, the glass skin system allowed for the addition of protruding, almost tower-like corners at the edges of the skyscraper, adding visual interest as well as new perspectives from the interior.

The Late Modern-style tower's glass is bronze in color and interrupted only by the thin aluminum reverse mullions, achieving a surprisingly delicate effect for such a large building. The twenty-two-story tall skyscraper and its matching four-story loft building/parking garage were designed to be part of a larger plaza landscape bringing pedestrian-friendly spaces to the congested urban area. The roof of the loft/garage in part of the landscape, providing pleasant views of fountains and vegetation rather than a parking lot to occupants of nearby high-rises.

Photo courtesy Architectural Resources Group

Warner Bros. Office Building (2)

Ahead of its time in terms of structural system and energy efficiency, this architectural gem's mirrored glass walls reflect up to 80% of the intense summer heat gain.
Photo courtesy Architectural Resources Group

Trousdale Estates

This A-list enclave in Beverly Hills was designed by top architects for the Hollywood elite.
Photo courtesy Architectural Resources Group

100 Wilshire

More than just an entertainer, Lawrence Welk was also a canny developer who put his mark on Santa Monica with the Champagne Towers apartment complex and the General Telephone high-rise office tower.