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| OUE Skyspace Los Angeles | |
|---|---|
| Name | OUE Skyspace Los Angeles |
| Location | 633 West 5th Street, Los Angeles, California |
| Status | Completed |
| Start date | 2012 |
| Completion date | 2017 |
| Building type | Observation deck, commercial |
| Height | 1,018 ft |
| Floor count | 69 |
| Architect | Gensler |
| Developer | Mulitple developers |
OUE Skyspace Los Angeles is an observation attraction and experiential venue located atop the US Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles. The site offers panoramic views across Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Mountains, the Pacific Ocean, and the San Fernando Valley, connecting visitors to landmarks such as Griffith Observatory, Staples Center, Hollywood Sign, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and La Brea Tar Pits. Opened amid redevelopment of Bunker Hill, the project intersected with commercial activity by corporations like OUE Limited and property stakeholders including local firms and international investors.
The tower that hosts the attraction was completed during the late 20th century as part of urban growth involving entities such as Magnum Real Estate Group, Paulus Development, and investment from firms resembling Equity Office Properties. Over decades the skyscraper figured in dialogues involving Los Angeles Department of City Planning, preservation debates linked to Bunker Hill Redevelopment Project, and economic cycles influenced by episodes comparable to the 2008 financial crisis. The observation venue launched in the 2010s as part of adaptive reuse trends seen in projects like One World Observatory and Top of the Rock, and was inaugurated alongside cultural initiatives tied to Downtown Los Angeles Partnership and civic tourism strategies promoted by Visit California.
Situated within a postmodern high-rise by consultancy teams including Gensler and engineering firms akin to Arup, the project integrated structural systems paralleling innovations used at Willis Tower and Burj Khalifa for high-elevation facilities. The interior and exterior employed materials and façades resonant with projects by architects such as I. M. Pei and Frank Gehry; mechanical and seismic upgrades reflected standards from agencies like California Building Standards Commission and codes in alignment with Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. The design accommodated elevators and lobbies similar to those in Comcast Center and visitor circulation planning comparable to The Shard and Empire State Building.
The observation deck provides multiple viewing levels with interpretive signage and sightlines to structures and sites including City Hall (Los Angeles), Dodger Stadium, Union Station (Los Angeles), Kings County (Brooklyn)-style comparative attractions, and regional features like Mount Wilson and Catalina Island. Exhibits curated on-site reference regional history and urbanism—with parallels to curation practices at Smithsonian Institution branches and presentation formats used by Museum of Modern Art, Getty Center, and Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Visitor amenities include ticketing operations, event spaces, and retail components similar to those at Eiffel Tower platforms and international observation venues like Tokyo Skytree.
A prominent attraction is a translucent external slide that transports visitors on the exterior of the tower between observation levels; its engineering echoes experiential installations such as the Edge (Hudson Yards) and adrenaline structures like the Stratosphere Las Vegas rides. Fabrication and safety followed precedents set by manufacturers and certifying bodies comparable to TÜV Rheinland and standards used at attractions like CN Tower and Skylon Tower, with structural negotiations involving parties akin to AECOM and specialty glazing firms.
Programming at the venue has included private events, corporate gatherings, cultural nights, and collaborations with arts organizations such as Los Angeles Philharmonic, LACMA, CalArts, and festivals in the vein of LA Pride and Nisei Week. Partnerships mirrored models used by institutions like Madison Square Garden Company and event producers comparable to Live Nation and AEG Presents, offering ticketed series, seasonal activations, and charity initiatives aligned with nonprofits similar to United Way and Los Angeles Conservancy.
Access is coordinated via downtown transit nodes including Pershing Square station, connections to Los Angeles Metro Rail lines, and arterial routes like Interstate 10 and US Route 101. Visitor services reflect ADA-guided accommodations similar to those at Metropolitan Museum of Art and airport standards practiced at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), with wayfinding and multilingual information inspired by major tourist hubs such as Times Square and Piccadilly Circus.
The attraction influenced downtown foot traffic, hospitality metrics at nearby hotels like those in the portfolios of Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and economic activity comparable to outcomes observed after openings of The High Line and The Vessel. Reviews and media coverage involved outlets and critics from Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Condé Nast Traveler, and travel platforms similar to TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet, contributing to debates about gentrification, tourism, and urban revitalization in contexts studied by scholars at University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California, and research centers like Brookings Institution.
Category:Buildings and structures in Los Angeles Category:Observation decks