LOS ANGELES | 611 W. 6th Street | 620 ft | 42 stories | 1967

BrandonJXN · #1 Posted **Jan 9, 2010, 12:44 AM**

I have a friend who works on the 3rd and the 35th floor of this building so every now and then I get to go in it. Let me just say that this building is in dire need of a queer eye makeover. The lobby lets you know exactly when it was made. A weird mash of dark marble and curtains and fake gold accents. An extremely uninviting lobby.

As for the building itself, aside from the 620 slab of concrete, it's an ok building. It's shaped like a + sign so that adds a bit of shape to downtown's skyline. But other than that, it's just there. I wish the top had some sort of restaurant and the blank side had some sort of mural. Or better yet, renovate the building and install a 620 LED panel on it. That'll REALLY attract people to downtown.

brandoncdg · #2 Posted **Jan 9, 2010, 6:05 AM**

Do you have any interior shots? The buildings in Downtown generally don't let people walking in off the street, take pics.

JDRCRASH · #3 Posted **Jan 9, 2010, 7:02 AM**

If there was a tower constructed right alongside the "slab", it would look nice, I think. But...550 Hope St building is already there...

brandoncdg · #4 Posted **Jan 11, 2010, 6:03 AM**

Walked through Downtown LA and made it a point to take some pics of this building.

JRinSoCal · #5 Posted **Jan 11, 2010, 7:18 PM**

This is one of those buildings in downtown LA that is screaming for a makeover. But I guess every building in a city can't be pretty.

Dac150 · #6 Posted **Jan 11, 2010, 7:25 PM**

I like it because it’s a representation of an era; even If not so visually appealing, it adds some diversified dynamic to the skyline (which in general looks like a product of the 1980's).

BrandonJXN · #7 Posted **Jan 11, 2010, 7:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandoncdh

Do you have any interior shots? The buildings in Downtown generally don't let people walking in off the street, take pics.

This building is no different.

Buckeye Native 001 · #8 Posted **Jan 13, 2010, 11:11 PM**

Kind of meh. I hate that slab of concrete and must have walked by it numerous times when I lived in SoCal but nothing about it ever really grabbed my attention.

Duffstuff129 · #9 Posted **Jan 14, 2010, 12:56 AM**

From curbed.com

Perhaps a bit similar?

213 · #10 Posted **Jun 18, 2015, 8:20 AM**

Unfortunately the building will likely remain static. The current ownership (New York-based flippers The Chetrit Group) bought it in 1999, at one point exploring residential conversion of the tower portion. That prospect went down with the economy, since which the building has sat largely empty. That I'm aware, Chetrit has no plans for new investment -- a shame, given the building's long frontage and key location.

King Kill 'em · #11 Posted **Jun 19, 2015, 2:33 AM**

what if the painted a mural on the side of the building?

plinko · #12 Posted **Jun 19, 2015, 9:44 PM**

Wasn't this the tallest building in LA for a short period of time before the completion of Atlantic-Richfield? I'd love to see a photo of that.

I had forgotten that this was designed by William Pereira (same guy who designed the Transamerica Pyramid).

It looked better when it had that old school AT&T logo on it in the late 80s/early 90s...

I know in the late 70s/early 80s it was the LA headquarters of Crocker Bank before they moved up Grand in 1983. Had a logo on it then as well (I've got a postcard somewhere).

plinko · #13 Posted **Jun 19, 2015, 9:54 PM**

Found one (circa 1966):

source

LosAngelesSportsFan · #14 Posted **Jun 19, 2015, 11:18 PM**

I walk past this building every day and it really needs a redo of the retail level. That area is booming and its such a wasted opportunity.

213 · #15 Posted **Jun 20, 2015, 8:17 AM**

Most of the retail space has been vacant since at least '07, when I moved into the area. DCBID was at one point a prospective tenant -- they wanted the former Social Security Administration office on the corner of Grand -- which sadly didn't pan out. At night the property becomes a skate park, to the annoyance of pretty much everybody.

The building's future is a tough call, due in some measure to Pereira's unusual design. The floorplates aren't suited to large, open build-outs favored by corporate tenants, while the narrowish windows and view-obstructing fins aren't great for residences. I suspect Chetrit, who own the building outright, will continue just to sit on it, doing the minimum upkeep necessary.

Ptown2downtown · #16 Posted **Dec 14, 2021, 1:30 PM**

I've been praying for this building to get a facade makeover anyone else?

sopas ej · #17 Posted **Dec 14, 2021, 5:17 PM**

Seriously. I think the building could (and should) be reskinned. Otherwise I think it's an ugly building. I think it could be turned into residences.

BrandonJXN · #18 Posted **Dec 14, 2021, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sopas ej

Seriously. I think the building could (and should) be reskinned. Otherwise I think it's an ugly building. I think it could be turned into residences.

I also think that it should be re-clad but I also don't want it to be clad in some blue modern eco-box type of glass. I personally would like to see it enhanced while still keeping it's mid century modernist type of look.

Something akin to what Toronto did with First Canadian Place some years ago.

https://thetorontoblog.com/wp-conten...1-IMG_3214.jpg

Convert it into a boutique hotel and residences and you have a winner.

caligrad · #19 Posted **Dec 15, 2021, 6:21 AM**

It could easily hold a few hundred rental/condo units and likewise for hotel rooms. Not sure why the owners are just sitting on this one. Its nearly in the middle of all the redevelopment and action. Not to mention very close to a few subway stops. It could actually be a cool building with the right vision.