Architect Albert C. Martin is responsible for many of the most celebrated buildings in downtown Los Angeles. Figueroa at Wilshire punctuates a dynamic urban environment at the very heart of the central business district at the intersection of two of downtown’s busiest cross streets. The 52-story, one million square foot office building is the eighth tallest in LA, and amongst the tallest 100 in the U.S. Its design features a square pedestal at street level rising through several setbacks to a distinctive octagonal glass crown, giving the skyscraper a powerful skyline presence. At ground level, Sanwa Bank Plaza stands in an expansive open-air public plaza.
The building makes effective use of color. Its cladding is of coral-colored granite, accented with bronze panels and complimented by tinted windows that vary in color from green through gray depending upon sky conditions. The glass crown has the appearance of a faceted gem, and is lit to spectacular effect at night. Uncommon features include two 75 foot atriums at the street level public area of the building.
Enclos provided complete design/build services for the entire cladding package. The custom unitized curtainwall system incorporates a diversity of materials including Brazilian Rose polished granite, tinted glass, brown granite and bronze panels.
The building currently holds an Energy Star Certification as issued by the US Department of Energy.
Figueroa at Wilshire has been the recipient of numerous awards, among them:
Rose Award for Outstanding New Office Building, 1991.
Business and Industry Award for Excellence in Architecture.
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), 1994 and 1995. |
