Financial Center Building

Financial Center Building
The building in 2008
Financial Center Building is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Financial Center Building
Location within the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location700-704 S. Spring Street and 126-140 W. 7th Street, Los Angeles, California
Coordinates34°02′40″N 118°15′08″W / 34.0444°N 118.2521°W / 34.0444; -118.2521
Built1923
ArchitectNorton and Wallis
Architectural styleCommercial Style/Beaux Arts
Part ofSpring Street Financial District (ID79000489)
Designated CPAugust 10, 1979

Financial Center Building is a historic building located at 700-704 S. Spring Street and 126-140 W. 7th Street in downtown Los Angeles, California. It is a contributing property in the National Register of Historic Places-listed Spring Street Financial District and the City of Los Angeles-listed Seventh Street Commercial Historic District.

History

Financial Center Building was designed by Norton and Wallis and built in 1923–1924. It was originally designed to house financial offices.

A 1923 newspaper article about its planned construction said that it would be of "class A, steel and fireproof construction featuring semiglazed mottled sienna terra cotta for the exterior walls on the four lower floors and three upper stories. Other floors on the exterior will be finished in light sienna tapestry brick." The construction team had a friendly race with the builders of an adjacent new building. The lobby was built with decorative travertine stone, bronze doors, and a polychrome painted ceiling.

Shortly after construction, S.W. Straus & Co. offered real estate bonds backed by the building's mortgage. By 1933, the bonds were in default.

Tenants in 1940 included an audit office of the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation and a Food Stamp Division Administrative Office.

In 1979, the Spring Street Financial District was added to the National Register of Historic Places, with Financial Center Building listed as a contributing property in the district. The building is also included in the City of Los Angeles-listed Seventh Street Commercial Historic District.

Architecture and design

Financial Center Building is thirteen stories and built of brick, tile, and concrete with a steel frame. The United States Department of the Interior describes the building as "basically Commercial Style," while other sources including the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Conservancy describe the building as having a Beaux Arts design. The building facade features pressed brick, terra cotta, metal, and many ornamental details.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Spring Street Financial District". National Park Service. August 10, 1979.
  2. 1 2 "Racing for Construction Supremacy". Daily News. 1924-04-02. p. 17. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
  3. 1 2 3 "Strolling on 7th Street: Downtown's Historic Thoroughfare" (PDF). Los Angeles Conservancy. 2010. p. 5.
  4. ↑ "Eight Millions for Buildings". The Los Angeles Times. 1923-10-28. p. 89. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
  5. ↑ "Building has attractive lobby". The Los Angeles Times. 1925-01-25. p. 107. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
  6. ↑ "Financial Center Building Issue Is Placed on Market". Los Angeles Herald Examiner. 1925-06-04. p. 18. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
  7. ↑ "Bay Bridge Bond Plans Gain Favor". The Los Angeles Times. 1932-10-30. p. 20. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
  8. ↑ "To Move Food Stamp Office: Financial Center Building New Headquarters". The Whittier News. 1940-02-03. p. 5. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
  9. 1 2 Survey LA (September 2, 2016). "Historic Districts, Planning Districts and Multi-Property Resources" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. p. 22.
  10. 1 2 Sitton, Tom (2008). "GC 1323 - Historic Sites Surveys" (PDF). Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
  11. ↑ "Exterior full corner view Financial Center building, 704 South Spring Street, Los Angeles (2 views)". ExLibris. Retrieved October 11, 2026.