DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — This quote comes from an article in the NY Times:

But in our security-obsessed age, the [Caltrans] building's spirit of openness makes it exceptional. Its vast "urban lobby" is carved through its core, sucking surrounding street life inside.

What?

If you wanted to suck street life inside the "lobby", you'd have punched a hole through to Los Angeles St. and the New Otani. As it is I don't even feel like I should be mounting the front steps. As is habit in LA, the plaza doesn't have anywhere to sit. It's concrete, with metal. That sort of an environment doesn't really suck many people in.

Hopefully the public eatery that's supposed to go in will change some of that.