Metropolitan Building

Completed in 1913, the Metropolitan Building stands as a proud testament to Los Angeles’s early 20th-century growth. This nine-story Beaux-Arts beauty has witnessed a century of change on Broadway. The Metropolitan Building originally served as a bustling hub of commerce and retail. It housed multiple businesses. The upper floors offered flexible loft spaces. The architects, John Parkinson and Edwin Bergstrom, designed an elegant main entrance and elevator lobby. These spaces featured marble accents and decorative elevator doors, creating a professional atmosphere for tenants. The Metropolitan Building’s location, at the intersection of 5th and Broadway, placed it in the heart of the city’s busiest shopping district. Originally the site of the Mueller Building, a two-story Romanesque Revival structure, the Metropolitan Building reflected the evolving needs of the city. The Mueller family retained ownership of the property for nearly a century, leasing the building to various businesses. Tenants throughout the years have included The Owl Drug Co., the Los Angeles Public Library, Foreman & Clark clothiers, Janss Investment Co., and J.J. Newberry Co. From 1913 to 1926, the Los Angeles Public Library occupied the seventh through tenth floors. The Metropolitan Building underwent modifications to accommodate the library’s needs, including adding a tenth floor and skylights for natural light. Later, J.J. Newberry Co. occupied a significant portion of the ground floor for about 50 years. Various alterations were made during their tenancy, including the addition of terrazzo flooring and a corner entrance. After an economic downturn in downtown Los Angeles, the Metropolitan Building saw changes in occupancy. In the mid-1990s, it was primarily occupied on the ground floor. The building changed ownership in 1985, ending the Mueller family’s long tenure. Today, the Metropolitan Building has been revitalized. The upper floors have been converted into loft apartments. The building continues to contribute to the commercial scene of the Broadway district. The Metropolitan Building stands as a reminder of Los Angeles’s vibrant past and its ongoing evolution.