Commercial Exchange Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Commercial Exchange Building |
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| General information | |
| Location | 416 West 8th Street, Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Completed | 1924 |
| Owner | Sydell Group |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Walker and Eisen |
The Commercial Exchange Building is a famous historic building in Los Angeles, California. It has a unique story, including being cut in half and put back together! Today, it stands as a cool hotel.
Contents
Where is the Building Located?
This interesting building is found in Downtown Los Angeles, California. It sits right on the corner of Olive Street and 8th Street.
A Look at Its History
The Commercial Exchange Building is 13 stories tall. It was finished in 1924. The building was designed by a well-known architecture company called Walker and Eisen.
The Building That Was Split in Half
One of the most amazing things about this building happened in the mid-1930s. City planners wanted to make Olive Street wider. To do this, they decided to remove a 10-foot-wide section from the very center of the building!
After removing the middle part, engineers carefully slid the western half of the building eastward. This way, the two remaining parts were rejoined. This incredible project cost about $60,000 back in 1935.
Famous Tenants and Features
The building's outside also has one of the tallest neon signs in Los Angeles. Over the years, many different businesses have been located here. For example, the famous writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, who created Tarzan, had his publishing company's offices in this building. The offices of the Owl Drug Company were also once here.
From Vacant to Vibrant Hotel
For about 20 years, the Commercial Exchange Building was empty. Then, in 2013, it was put up for sale for $14 million. A year later, in 2014, a company called the Sydell Group bought it. They decided to turn the old building into a brand-new hotel. This hotel is now known as Freehand Los Angeles.
In 2019, the building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
