Trident Center Is Home for 2 Law Firms
Getting two lawyers to agree about anything is difficult enough, so getting two of the largest law firms in Los Angeles to agree to move from Century City to Olympic Boulevard and the San Diego Freeway must rank with the great real estate achievements of the past decade.
The two firms--Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg & Tunney and Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp--have moved into the $55-million Trident Center at 11355-77 Olympic Blvd., West Los Angeles. The landmark building is the culmination of an idea that builder/developer Sam Gilbert first proposed about five years ago.
Gilbert, of Sam Gilbert & Associates, Encino, reached an agreement in 1980 with the two law firms to construct the complex with an equity participation plan, marketed by Security First Group in 1983. Gilbert is the general partner, the two law firms are limited partners and Security First Group is a limited partner.
The 3.6-acre site on Olympic between Purdue and Corinth avenues, formerly occupied by Hansen Chevrolet, was rezoned to permit a parking structure, and Matlin & Dvoretzky Architects, Santa Monica, designed a 323,000-square-foot complex with two 10-story towers linked by a four-level parking structure topped by a landscaped sports and dining park.
Tenants, in addition to the two law firms, include financial institutions, the Courtside Bistro restaurant and the Trident Room, a private club. Last April, the Gilberts and the architects received a Western Los Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce Beautification Award for Trident Center.
The complex is set well back from Olympic Boulevard to allow the creation of a park-like plaza. Cable television was provided to neighboring homes affected by the towers. Union Bank was the construction lender, CIGNA is the permanent lender and the Gilbert firm was the general contractor and is the leasing manager.
