Because of the threat posed by earthquakes,...

Because of the threat posed by earthquakes, it was not until 1956 that Los Angeles changed its building codes and allowed builders to exceed a 13-story limit. The only exception to this rule was the 28-story City Hall, built in 1928. For more than three decades, it alone dominated downtown’s skyline.

With the advent of new building materials and construction techniques in the 1950s, high-rises could be made more earthquake-resistant. These developments allowed for changes in the building codes.

However, it was not until the 1970s that the skyline as we know it today began to take shape.

Today, L.A.’s tallest building is the 73-story First Interstate World Center (also known as the Library Tower), which at 1,017 feet is the tallest building west of the Mississippi River and is more than 2 1/2 times taller than City Hall.

How much does a view from the top cost? About $40 to $50 per square foot, or about 10% to 15% more than on lower floors.

L.A.’s Skyline Today

At right, the current view of downtown from about the same vantage point on the Transamerica Building. City Hall--barely visible at far right--is dwarfed by today’s skyline, which is crowned by the First Interstate World Center.

BUILDING ADDRESS STORIES *First Interstate World Center 633 W. 5th St. 73 *First Interstate Bank Tower 707 Wilshire Blvd. 62 *Security Pacific Plaza 333 S. Hope St. 55 *Wells Fargo Center, North Tower 333 S. Grand St. 54 *777 Tower at Citicorp Plaza 777 S. Figueroa St. 53 *Two California Plaza 350 S. Grand Ave. 52 *Arco Towers 515, 555 S. Flower St. 52 *Southern California Gas Center 555 W. 5th St. 51 *Wells Fargo Bank Building 444 S. Flower St. 48 *Wells Fargo Center/IBM South Tower 344 S. Grand Ave. 45 *AT&T; Center 611 W. 6th St. 42

Sources: Los Angeles 200, California Almanac, Architecture in Los Angeles, Cushman Realty Corp.

Compiled by Times researcher Michael Meyers