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South Park Center (Los Angeles) facts for kids

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USC Tower
AT&T Center Los Angeles.jpg
Alternative names AT&T Center
SBC Tower
Transamerica Tower
Occidental Life Building
General information
Status Complete
Type Commercial offices
SBC Tower
Transamerica Tower
Occidental Life Building
Architectural style International style Modernism
Location 1150 South Olive Street
Los Angeles, California
Coordinates 34°02′22″N 118°15′43″W / 34.0395°N 118.261853°W / 34.0395; -118.261853
Construction started 1962
Completed 1965
Owner Canyon-Johnson Realty Advisors
Height
Roof 137.77 m (452.0 ft)
Technical details
Floor count 32
Floor area 54,035 m2 (581,630 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect William Pereira & Associates
Structural engineer Brandow & Johnston

The USC Tower is a very tall building, also known as a skyscraper, located in Los Angeles, California. It has 32 floors and stands about 138 meters (453 feet) high! This building has had a few different names over the years, like AT&T Center and Transamerica Building. It was finished in 1965. Back then, it was the second-tallest building in Los Angeles, after the Los Angeles City Hall. The building was designed in a style called International Modernism by a famous architect firm, William Pereira & Associates.

History of the USC Tower

The USC Tower is part of a larger area called South Park Center. This area used to be known as Occidental Center. It covers about 12 acres, which is like 9 football fields!

Early Days and Special Features

When the building first opened in the 1960s, it had a fancy restaurant at the very top. It was called "The Tower" and was known for its amazing French food. Imagine eating dinner with a view of the whole city!

The original complex included more than just the main tower. There were two other big buildings and three parking areas with space for 3,500 cars. There was also a large empty plot of land. All three main buildings were connected by underground tunnels. This made it easy for people to walk between them without going outside.

Changes Over Time

In 2003, a company called Canyon-Johnson Realty Advisors bought the entire complex. They paid $88 million for it! After buying it, they changed one of the less busy buildings into apartments that were more affordable.

Later, in 2006, Transamerica, one of the main companies in the tower, signed a big lease to keep their offices there. From 2007 to 2008, the tower got a huge makeover. This renovation cost $35 million! Workers put up scaffolding all around the top of the building. They replaced the metal panels on the outside and made the office spaces inside much nicer.

In 2015, the whole area was renamed South Park Center. At the same time, the 32-story tower officially became known as the USC Tower.

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