Aon Center (Los Angeles)

Infobox Skyscraper
building_name = Aon Center


previous_building = Transamerica Pyramid
year_built = 1973
surpassed_by_building = U.S. Bank Tower
year_highest =
year_end =
location = 707 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles
roof = 858 feet (262 meters)
height_stories = 62
construction_period = 1973
complete

The Aon Center is a modernist office skyscraper located at 707 Wilshire Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles, California. Completed in 1973, it is 858 feet (262 meters) high, and has 62 floors. Designed by Charles Luckman, it is a rectangular black building with a white border, and a remarkably slender form for a skyscraper in a seismically-active area. The logo of the Aon Corporation, its primary tenant, is at the top in red.

It was originally called the United California Bank Building from its completion in 1973 until 1984, when it became known as the First Interstate Tower. When built, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River, until surpassed by the Texas Commerce Tower in 1982. It remained the tallest building in Los Angeles until 1989 when the Library Tower (now the U.S. Bank Tower) was completed. Between 1998 and 2003, there were no logos on the building.

On May 4, 1988, a fire that began in the 12th floor just after 10:00 PM PST burned for four hours, destroyed five floors, injured 40 people, and left one maintenance worker dead. The fire was severe because workers had disconnected the pipes that fed the fire sprinkler system, which was under construction at the time. The fire was eventually contained at 2:19 AM. The fire caused $50 million in damages, and it took four months to repair the building. Also, because of the fire, Los Angeles building codes were changed, requiring all high-rises to be equipped with fire sprinklers. This modified a 1974 ordinance that only required new buildings to contain fire sprinkler systems.

External links

* [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=116483 Emporis.com: Aon Center, Los Angeles]
* [http://www.lafire.com/famous_fires/880504_1stInterstateFire/050488_InterstateFire.htm First Interstate Bank Fire] Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive