Resisting earthquakes up to 8.4 on the Richter scale, the U.S. Bank Tower stands tall. This skyscraper is more than just a building. It’s a symbol of Los Angeles.
The U.S. Bank Tower is located downtown. You can find it at 633 West Fifth Street. It is the third-tallest building in California. Its roof height exceeds 1000 feet. This makes it unique in California.
Originally, it was known as Library Tower. This was because it was part of the Los Angeles Central Library redevelopment. The city sold air rights to the tower’s developers. This helped fund the library’s reconstruction after two fires in 1986.
For a time, it was called First Interstate Bank World Center. After First Interstate Bancorp merged with Wells Fargo, the name Library Tower was restored. In 2003, U.S. Bancorp leased the property. It was then renamed the U.S. Bank Tower.
Henry N. Cobb of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners designed the U.S. Bank Tower. Construction cost $350 million. The U.S. Bank Tower has 73 stories above ground. It also has two underground parking levels. Construction began in 1987 and finished in 1989.
The U.S. Bank Tower once held a record. It was the tallest building with a rooftop helipad. This lasted from 1989 to 2010. The China World Trade Center Tower III then surpassed it.
The tower has a large glass crown at its top. It illuminates at night. In 2004, two large U.S. Bank logo signs were installed on the crown. This caused some controversy over the building’s appearance.
Notably, the 9/11 Commission reported a chilling detail. The original plan included crashing a hijacked plane into this very building. In 2005, officials revealed a second foiled plot from 2002.
From 2016 to 2020, the U.S. Bank Tower offered OUE Skyspace LA. This observation deck spanned the 69th and 70th floors. A restaurant called 71Above was on the 71st floor. For a time, visitors could ride the Skyslide. It was a glass slide attached to the building’s exterior. It ran between the 70th and 69th floors.
In 2020, Silverstein Properties purchased the U.S. Bank Tower. Renovations followed. The observation deck was converted back to office space. The 71Above restaurant remained open. The 54th floor became a co-working lounge.
The U.S. Bank Tower often appears in films and television. It is one of the most recognizable buildings in Los Angeles. You might recognize it from Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, and San Andreas. It also appears in the Grand Theft Auto video game series as the Maze Bank Tower.
The U.S. Bank Tower stands as a testament to architectural innovation. It is a resilient structure. It connects Los Angeles’ past, present, and future. It remains a defining feature of the Los Angeles skyline.