Los Angeles Mall facts for kids
The Los Angeles Mall is a unique place in downtown Los Angeles. It's a mix of a small shopping area and public spaces called plazas. You can find it in the Los Angeles Civic Center, located between Main Street and Los Angeles Street. A special pedestrian bridge and a tunnel connect its different parts.
One of the most famous things here is the Triforium sculpture. It was created by artist Joseph Young and opened in 1975. This colorful sculpture has 1,500 glass pieces that light up and change colors. They even move to the sound of an electronic bell carillon, which is like a set of musical bells.
The mall first opened its doors in 1974. It also has a large parking garage with space for 2,400 cars. Before the mall was built, this area was home to some of the city's oldest business buildings. These older structures were taken down in the 1940s and 1950s to make way for new developments.
The architectural firm Stanton & Stockwell designed the Los Angeles Mall. This same firm also designed other important buildings nearby, like the Los Angeles County Courthouse and the Kenneth Hahn L.A. County Hall of Administration. The idea behind the mall was to create a "town square" for everyone. It was meant to be a place for meetings, shopping, public services, and art. It served both the general public and the many government workers in the Civic Center. Landscape designers Cornell, Bridgers, Troller, and Hazlett helped plan the outdoor areas.
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Future Changes for the Los Angeles Mall
The Los Angeles Mall area is set to undergo big changes. Much of it will be taken down. This is part of a larger plan to make the Civic Center area more lively and connected. A new building, the "Los Angeles Street Civic Building," is also part of this project.
Exploring the Plazas and Public Spaces
The plazas at the Los Angeles Mall are mostly paved areas. They are surrounded by important city government buildings. You can also find grassy lawns and gardens with flowering bushes and special trees.
South Mall Plaza Features
The South Mall area surrounds a building called City Hall East. This is an 18-story building built in 1972. It was also designed by Stanton & Stockwell. Inside, you can see a large artwork by Millard Sheets called The Family of Man. Around the plaza, there are many tall trees.
Here, you'll also find the 1974 Eleanor Chambers Memorial Fountain. People sometimes call it the Dan-de-lion fountain. Two Chinese lion statues are also in this area. They were placed there to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. The Sunken Palm Court is another part of the South Mall. It has curved paths and a stainless steel sculpture from 1974 by Jan Peter Stern called Cubed Square.
North Mall Plaza Features
The North Mall plaza is raised above the ground. It is surrounded by beautiful jacaranda trees. This is where the famous Triforium sculpture is located. Another plaza, which is sunken, used to be near the Children’s Museum. This area has a food court, groups of palm trees, and the Robert J. Stevenson Fountain. This fountain is a pointed, red and brown statue in a pool with water jets.
The Pedestrian Bridge Over Temple Street
Howard Troller, the landscape architect for the mall, designed a special pedestrian bridge. This bridge goes over Temple Street and connects the North and South malls. For a unique look, he shaped the bottom of the bridge like a ship's keel. He also asked artist Tom Van Sant to add more artistic touches. Van Sant designed the curving steps leading up to the bridge and the handrails.
The bridge was made to arc higher over Temple Street to include these steps. It extends out from the sidewalk towards the middle of the street. A rubber material connects the two sections of the bridge. This allows them to move safely during an earthquake. This small bridge was an early example of public art in Los Angeles that is both beautiful and useful.
Shops and Services at the Mall
In 1981, the Los Angeles Mall had many different businesses. Besides City Hall East and the Children's Museum, there were 15 shops. These included a Sav-on Drug Store. There were also 9 service businesses, like Security Pacific National Bank. For food, there were 9 places to eat, including Bob's Jr. by Bob's Big Boy and a Carls Jr..
Changes Over Time
By the mid-1980s, people started to notice that the mall needed more care. It was even called an "embarrassment" because of a lack of upkeep. There were talks about whether the Children's Museum should take over the whole mall. The Children's Museum eventually moved to a new location around the year 2000. In the late 2010s, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the area increased. This led to fewer people using the public spaces. Plans from 2018 included ideas to convert parts of the space into housing.
