Formerly: First Interstate Bank Tower Formerly: United California Bank Tower Formerly: The 707 Building Built: 1972-1974 Designed by: The Luckman Partnership Renovated: 2008 by Johnson Fain Architects Type: Skyscraper Stories: 62 Maximum Height: 858 feet / 262 meters Location: 707 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, United States
O ne of the tallest buildings on the west coast, The Aon Center is an iconic building in a city full of icons. Its black glass sides are interrupted only by the white stone of the chamfers extending from the ground 62 stories up to the roof. At the top, a margin of matching stone marks the end of this building's ascent into the sky while providing a place for a little corporate branding. Or a lot of corporate branding.
One of the more tragic events in downtown's high rise community happened at this building. In 1988 a fire broke out on the 12th floor of this tower. At the time, fire sprinklers were being installed in the building, but they weren't working yet. One person died and dozens were hurt.
Architect: Charles Luckman
At the time of its completion, this was the tallest building in Los Angeles. It was surpassed by the U.S. Bank Center in 1989.
Floor space: 1,103,829 square feet
Stories above ground: 62
Stories below ground: 5
Elevators: 32
May 4, 1988: A fire on the 12th floor of this building killed one person, and injured 40. Five floors of the building were gutted.
2003: This building is bought by Transwestern Investment Company for $120,000,000.
September 13, 2005: This building is bought by Broadway Partners for $185,000,000.
2006: A plan is floated to convert the top ten floors of this building into residences.
