The Metro Headquarters Building (or One Gateway Plaza) is a 398 ft (121 m) high rise office tower in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

. It is located in Northeastern

Downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) contains the central business district of Los Angeles. In addition, it contains a diverse residential area of some 85,000 people, and covers . A 2013 study found that the district is home to over 500,000 jobs. It is ...

, east across the tracks from Union Station. Completed in 1995, it serves as the main headquarters for the

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), commonly branded as Metro, LA Metro, and L.A. Metro, is the state agency that plans, operates, and coordinates funding for most of the transportation system in Los Angele ...

Building

The $145.5 million building is the main fixture of the

Patsaouras Transit Plaza Patsaouras Transit Plaza is a bus station on the east side of Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles, near the El Monte Busway. It was originally named the Gateway Transit Plaza but was renamed after Nick Patsaouras, former Rapid Transit District ...

and features exquisite artwork throughout the exterior facades and the interior lobby. The main boardroom seats 350 people. The building's design features a blend of contextual influences of 1930s Hispanic-Deco and post-modern architecture. It features four levels of underground parking. The construction of this building was filmed in the 1994 children's video There Goes a Bulldozer, where

Dave Hood Dave Hood (born November 1, 1950) is an American actor, filmmaker and former radio personality, best known for his award winning entertaining and educational children's productions. He has been host of many travel oriented programs including '' ...

climbed a tower crane. In the '' Star Trek: Voyager'' episode " Future's End", a digitally-altered image of the building was used to represent the 1996 headquarters of villain Henry Starling (

Ed Begley, Jr. Edward James Begley Jr. (born September 16, 1949) is an American actor and environmental activist. Begley has appeared in hundreds of films, television shows, and stage performances. He played Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the television series '' St. ...

). The building was again seen, this time on a matte painting depicting a building on the Mari homeworld in the ''Star Trek: Voyager'' episode " Random Thoughts" in 1997. The building was also home to the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) from 2011 to 2018.

Criticism

Prior to its completion, the building was criticized for its use of expensive construction materials as a public agency. One critic dubbed it as a "Taj Mahal" in reference to its Italian granite, English brick and a $300,000 aquarium. However, proponents of the project argued that it would spur development around Union Station and create a new public gathering place.

References

Emporis: MTA BuildingMcLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners: MTA Headqiarters
{{Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Skyscraper office buildings in Los Angeles Buildings and structures in Downtown Los Angeles Government buildings in Los Angeles Office buildings completed in 1995 1995 establishments in California 1990s architecture in the United States

Building

Criticism

See also

References