LAPD Glares at Higgins
Ed Fuentes
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — There have been no end to the eyes watching as the new LAPD headquarters has quickly risen south of City Hall, but residents of the Higgins building might be preparing to see the structure in a whole new light. As glass has been added to the building's south face one can observe the reflection of the late afternoon sun climbing the northern side of the Higgins. At the LAPD building's currently state of completion the lit area reaches 4 - 5 stories, catching De Soto Gallery, Pitfire Pizza and the loft windows above.
The light being bounced off the LAPD glass is not as strong as that which first bounced off the stainless steel curves of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2005. Still, on a day like today, you wonder if those first few floors might be receiving a little extra heat from across the street.
Light from LAPD as seen from inside De Soto Gallery on 2nd:
spinsLPs on February 12, 2008, at 12:41PM – #1
Lawsuit!
AFS on February 12, 2008, at 03:50PM – #2
won't there be a couple of trees at least that may block some of that, there is a small park planned or was in the plans along 2nd.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on February 12, 2008, at 04:31PM – #3
Ironically, I'm sitting inside Pitfire right now and the angle of glare (I'm looking toward it) is making it hard to read my laptop. It's amazingly bright; possibly not quite as bad as this iPhone shot makes it look, but pretty close.
http://flickr.com/photos/ericrichardson/2261852038/
Joe Cornish on February 12, 2008, at 07:18PM – #4
The place is already as hot as a sauna in the summer. The added reflection will really drive up the electricity bills caused by all those air conditioners running nonstop!
concerned on February 13, 2008, at 07:28AM – #5
hmmm. that glass is ugly anyways. just use some low e, non-reflective glazing. the building will look better and wont harm the surround with glare. What are DMJM's designers thinking? Sounds like title 24 has their Mech. Engineers nervous about the calcs!
wake up on February 13, 2008, at 12:47PM – #6
People, you need to get used to the fact that downtown is becoming a "real" place. Go to any urban city such as ny or sf and you'll find this kind of thing happening all the time. Yes, glass does reflect sunlight. Live with it and be happy that you're a part of downtown's rebirth.
Anthony Santana on February 13, 2008, at 02:12PM – #7
I hear you^ but when a planned park somehow loses out to a LAPD HQ and now your loft is a tanning salon I think I have the right to be a little pissed...I'm very awake too.
bert Haze on May 22, 2008, at 01:03AM – #8
Dear Residents of 2nd & Main,
The new LAPD Admin Building offers something for everyone... there will be open space along 2nd Street that is a much needed improvement for residents and business people alike. Add a brand new building with great architecture and you have a win / win for the community. This is a great use of space that lives up to the LAPD motto of "Protect & Serve."- Sincerely Yours...
Purple Haze on May 22, 2008, at 03:15AM – #9
Dear residents of McCain and Main on the Brain, update your resumes and prepare to get your tickets punched. Anyone who thinks that the building should be named in honor of the late FBI director who wore dresses upstairs at his Victorian abode cohabited by Clyde Tolson will be suspect. Any males dressed in drag at McCain and Main will be apprehended and handed over to Dick Cheney (his daughter will crack the whip). They will be detained in the crypt beneath the chancel cati-corner across the intersection at St. Vibiana's, until transfer to Guantanamo can be arranged. Those caught drinking holy water will be bound and gagged. Smiling, loitering or street performing anywhere near the new headquarters is banned. Anyone who has seen the movie 'Brazil' and enjoyed it, will be arrested and sent to County General for surgery. Robert DeNiro will not ever enter the building, no matter how many more gawd-awfull gangster movies he makes during the remainder of his career. J. Edgar Jr. will be admitted with delight.
Metro Local on May 22, 2008, at 07:39AM – #10
The new Police Administration building is a monument to everything wrong with City's management -- overdue needs done at over budget expense.
It's likely just a coincidence that the contractor for this project has contributed to nearly every City Council office holder for the last several years.
carpenter1506 on August 12, 2008, at 04:37PM – #11
i work at the site. They were planning to change it but didn't go through. But I have a nice view of the Higgins building around 6:45 am. People are crazy in the morning.