Home to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, this 16-story Ferraro-designed classic dates back to 1964. While it isn't LA's biggest, tallest or edgiest building, it is an architectural standout, defined by sharp horizontal lines and framed by a reflection pond that seemingly hovers over the underground parking lot. Interestingly, the pond feeds the building's cooling towers while the parking lot's shade structure is a solar farm. Head in at twilight, when the skyline twinkles in the water.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

0.1 MILES

Downtown's '60s-era concert hall was home to the LA Philharmonic (until it moved to the acoustically superior Walt Disney Concert Hall) and frequent venue…

2. Walt Disney Concert Hall

0.18 MILES

A molten blend of steel, music and psychedelic architecture, this iconic concert venue is the home base of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, but has also…

3. Grand Park

0.21 MILES

Everything from free lunchtime yoga to music concerts and long days of lounging and people-watching takes place at this preened Downtown park, cascading…

4. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

0.23 MILES

LA is unlike any other city, and this cathedral is unlike any other cathedral. Seat of the US's largest Roman Catholic archdiocese (some five million…

5. Broad

0.27 MILES

From the instant it opened in September 2015, the Broad (rhymes with 'road') became a must-visit for contemporary-art fans. It houses the world-class…

6. MOCA Grand

0.32 MILES

MOCA's superlative art collection focuses mainly on works created from the 1940s to the present. There's no shortage of luminaries, among them Mark Rothko…

7. Wells Fargo Center

0.44 MILES

Featuring two granite polygonal skyscrapers connected by a three-story atrium, this 1983 office complex is the work of renowned Chicago architecture firm…

8. California Plaza

0.45 MILES

MOCA Grand is dwarfed by the soaring California Plaza office towers. The outdoor water-court amphitheater is host to Grand Performances, which is one of…