Capitol Records Building

Capitol Records Building
Downtowngal · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Capitol Records Building
Caption	The Capitol Records Building in Hollywood, California
Location	Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Coordinates	34.1025, -118.325, type:landmark_region:US-CA
Start date	1955
Completion date	1956
Opening date	April 6, 1956
Architect	Welton Becket
Owner	Capitol Records
Height	150 ft
Floor count	13
Building type	Office
Architectural style	Googie
Designation	Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument
Designation date	2006

Capitol Records Building. Located at 1750 North Vine Street in the heart of Hollywood, this iconic cylindrical tower is the world's first circular office building and serves as the headquarters for Capitol Records. Designed by architect Welton Becket and completed in 1956, its distinctive silhouette, resembling a stack of records with a stylus needle at its peak, has become an enduring symbol of the American music industry and a defining landmark of the Los Angeles skyline. The building is a celebrated example of Mid-century modern and Googie architecture and was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 2006.

● History

The building's construction was commissioned by Capitol Records co-founder Glenn Wallichs to consolidate the company's operations, which had outgrown its previous facilities on Melrose Avenue. The site on Vine Street was chosen for its prominent location near other entertainment hubs like the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Pantages Theatre. Since its opening on April 6, 1956, the building has been continuously occupied by Capitol Records and its parent companies, including EMI and later Universal Music Group. It has witnessed the evolution of the music industry from the vinyl record era through the digital music age, remaining a physical anchor for the label that has released works by legendary artists like Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and Beach Boys.

● Architecture

The structure is a thirteen-story reinforced concrete cylinder, a radical departure from traditional rectilinear skyscraper designs of the period, such as those in New York City or Chicago. Its circular form was both an aesthetic choice and a functional one, intended to maximize natural light and office space efficiency. The facade features alternating bands of convex and concave aluminum sunshades, which create a distinctive ribbed appearance and serve as a functional brise soleil. Atop the tower sits a 90-foot red illuminated spire, designed to resemble a stylus needle, which blinks "H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D" in Morse code as a beacon. The base of the tower includes a four-story rectangular annex housing recording studios.

● Design and Construction

The project was led by architect Welton Becket and his firm Welton Becket and Associates, with structural engineering by Ketchum, Konkel, Barrett, Nickel, Austin. The innovative circular design presented significant engineering challenges, particularly in constructing the concrete core and the cantilevered floors. The building's foundation required deep caissons to reach stable soil. The unique sunshades were prefabricated and installed on-site, and the entire structure was built using a pioneering slip-form construction technique. The interior featured custom-designed furnishings by William Haines and acoustically advanced studios engineered by Larry Levine, making it a state-of-the-art facility for sound recording.

● Cultural Significance

Instantly recognizable, the building has been featured in countless films, television shows, and album art, cementing its status as a global pop culture icon. It appears in movies like *The Day of the Locust*, *The Italian Job*, and La La Land, and has been referenced in songs by artists including The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Miley Cyrus. Its image is synonymous with the Hollywood entertainment district and is a frequent subject for photographers and tourists. The building stands as a monument to the postwar optimism and technological innovation of 1950s America, representing the glamour and creative energy of the music business.

● Notable Events

On December 3, 1956, Nat King Cole became the first major artist to record in the building's famed Studio A. In 1962, The Beatles recorded their first American Capitol Records single, "Love Me Do," in the building during their initial visit to the United States. The landmark was the site of a tragic event on March 29, 1982, when singer Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his father in the family residence within the building's annex. Each year, the building serves as the focal point for the Hollywood Christmas Parade, and its rooftop has been used for promotional events, including album launches for artists like Katy Perry and Coldplay. Category:Buildings and structures in Hollywood, Los Angeles Category:Music industry buildings in the United States Category:Welton Becket buildings