From the ashes of the Great Depression arose a symbol of hope: the Los Angeles Stock Exchange Building. We stand before this impressive structure. It reminds us of a time when the world needed reassurance. The Los Angeles Stock Exchange Building, with its imposing granite facade, aimed to project exactly that: stability. Imagine, in 1931, this Moderne-style masterpiece opening its massive bronze doors. These doors, the largest of their kind in the region, welcomed traders and financiers into a world of bustling activity.
The Los Angeles Stock Exchange Building isn’t just a building. It’s a story etched in stone and bronze. The granite facade, soaring 53 feet high, stands as a testament to the city’s resilience during a challenging era. Behind this impressive facade lies a twelve-story office tower, originally clad in terra cotta. Take a moment to appreciate the intricate details. Notice the three bas-reliefs by Salvatore Cartaino Scarpitta: “Finance,” “Research and Discovery,” and “Production.” These powerful sculptures symbolize the interconnectedness of the economy. They depict the roles of individuals. Look for the steelworkers representing production, the chemists symbolizing research, and the financiers, with a woman on a throne, embodying finance.
Step inside, and you’ll be transported back in time. Julian Ellsworth Garnsey designed the interior with a blend of Native American and Near Eastern influences. Envision the original trading floor, a vibrant hub with 64 booths and a balcony beneath a 40-foot ceiling. Sculptured figures adorned the ceiling. Each represented key principles: Equality, Permanence, Speed (Mercury), and Accuracy (an archer). The Los Angeles Stock Exchange Building was more than just a trading floor. It housed an auditorium, a lecture room, a statistics department, offices, and even a library, club, billiard room, and reading rooms on the upper floors.
The Los Angeles Stock Exchange thrived here until 1986. Then, it merged with the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange in 1956 and became the largest regional stock exchange west of the Mississippi. Later, the exchange moved, and the building found new life. In the late 1980s, it was transformed into a nightclub, aptly named “The Stock Exchange.” Another transformation occurred in 2010, when it reopened as ExchangeLA, a nightclub and event venue. While the interior has been modernized, the Los Angeles Stock Exchange Building’s historic facade remains protected. It stands as a reminder of Los Angeles’s financial history and its ability to adapt and reinvent itself. The Los Angeles Stock Exchange Building’s journey reflects the city’s dynamism. It began as a symbol of financial stability, became a hub of economic activity, and now thrives as a vibrant entertainment venue.