Believe me when I say that finding information of cancelled Los Angeles skyscrapers is impossible. There has been renderings floating around for buildings proposed from the 70's, 80's, and 90's but are extremely hard to find. So if anyone has any information of ANY cancelled skyscrapers in LA, post up.

8th and Figueroa Tower
http://www.archonline.com/njba/100Port/01Office/8thFigeroa.jpg
http://www.archonline.com/njba/100Port/01Office/8thFigeroa.jpg

Library Plaza
http://www.crussell.com/1046.jpg
http://www.crussell.com/1046.jpg

^The only thing I know about this is that it was supposed to rise next to the Central Library. I'm guessing where the modern addition was added.

West End Tower
http://www.crussell.com/arch_bro_image202a.jpg
http://www.crussell.com/arch_bro_image202a.jpg

Main Place Towers
http://www.crussell.com/arch_book03_image04.jpg
http://www.crussell.com/arch_book03_image04.jpg

^ Those were to rise in Santa Ana (Orange County).

Metropolis
http://www.crussell.com/arch_book03_image01.jpg

^ This will get built. Just not in this form.

8th and Figueroa Tower
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee192/trolltoast/2585336502_c202af8764_o.jpg
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee192/trolltoast/2585336502_c202af8764_o.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee192/trolltoast/2585369388_6600f88fb9_o.jpg
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee192/trolltoast/2585369388_6600f88fb9_o.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee192/trolltoast/2585336450_d521eb7041_o.jpg
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee192/trolltoast/2585336450_d521eb7041_o.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/8thfig.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/8thfig.jpg

755 Tower
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/untitled4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/untitled3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/untitled5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/untitled5.jpg

^ Funny story with the 755 Tower. There was a lot of activity on the site of the building a few years ago. Everyone thought that this building was going to get built. Just to prove my point, does this not look exciting?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2244/2497768442_ccfeca9576_b.jpg

But it never came to be. A few developers proposed towers on that site actually. Most people remember this tower.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7170/755qg3.png
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7170/755qg3.png


And another.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/755Fig-1.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/755Fig-1.jpg

http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-showcase/files/2011/08/110.jpg
http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-showcase/files/2011/08/110.jpg

Figueroa Tower

http://www.nyase.com/images/projects/park5th.jpg
http://www.nyase.com/images/projects/park5th.jpg

Park Fifth Tower

Unknown

http://www.afriat.com/images/metropolis.jpg
http://www.afriat.com/images/metropolis.jpg

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQDrZf9mxG3rLEsTJtxEbu2z4IgUi9mchUmACQmR68Szz6x8xsvZFEMiPUJ
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQDrZf9mxG3rLEsTJtxEbu2z4IgUi9mchUmACQmR68Szz6x8xsvZFEMiPUJ

City House and Olympic
http://robertsonpartners.net/images/3-Front-View.jpg
http://robertsonpartners.net/images/3-Front-View.jpg

Glass Tower
http://www.kalantarigroup.com/theglasstower/images/renderinga_big.jpg
http://www.kalantarigroup.com/theglasstower/images/renderinga_big.jpg

1027 Wilshire
http://www.amidigroup.com/images/1027_wilshire1Large.jpg
http://www.amidigroup.com/images/1027_wilshire1Large.jpg

8th and Grand (Opus)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/8th%20and%20Grand/8grand1copy.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/8th%20and%20Grand/8grand1copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/8th%20and%20Grand/8grand2copy.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/8th%20and%20Grand/8grand2copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/8th%20and%20Grand/8grand6copy.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/8th%20and%20Grand/8grand6copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/8th%20and%20Grand/8grand7copy.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/8th%20and%20Grand/8grand7copy.jpg

^ This one hurt.

FIDM Tower
http://static.flickr.com/33/43682926_f3d8617e4d_o.jpg

^ God how I want this built.

3670 Wilshire
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Wilshire/bkgd.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/Wilshire/bkgd.jpg



Not an skyscraper but something pretty cool anyway: There was a proposal to hang a mesh of LED lights from the City National Plaza. It would've created a very cool night time display.

http://electroland.net/projects/cnp/

A newer rendering of Metropolis.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/metropolisnew.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/metropolisnew.jpg

The City House
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/robertson2.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/robertson2.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/robertson5.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/robertson5.jpg

The Olympic
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/robertson1.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/robertson1.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/robertson3.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/robertson3.jpg

I think nothing can beat the Gothic madness of Angel City in Los Angeles. Good mercy. It's almost sinister. Happiness does not dwell in Angel City. Not only would it have been ugly, but it would've been about the size of ALL of DTLA.

Fear:


The Angel City Development Project was designed as an entertainment complex and landmark attraction for the public and visiting tourists of the downtown Los Angeles area. As Brett's vision the project would incorporate shopping centers, cinemas, museums, hotels, lush gardens, and various showcases. The tower and its surrounding buildings were designed to stand on a 122 acre site which Brett and his City of Angel's corporation collected and acquired over the course of 2 years. The unique architecture of Angel City incorporates monumental concrete, granite, and stainless steel flying buttresses inspired by great historic European gothic cathedrals. These elements are merged with an original modern structure making it the first of its kind in the world and a uniquely original creation. Due to an eminent domain lawsuit filed by the Los Angeles School Board, the project's land is no longer available to construct the grand Angel City development.

http://www.blsart.com/angel/la/1.jpg
http://www.blsart.com/angel/la/2.jpg
http://www.blsart.com/angel/la/3.jpg
http://www.blsart.com/angel/la/4.jpg
http://www.blsart.com/angel/la/10.jpg
http://www.blsart.com/angel/la/12.jpg
http://www.blsart.com/angel/la/14.jpg

:yuck:

Thanks for collecting these for us, Soup. I knew a bit about unbuilt towers elsewhere, but not so much in Los Angeles. To be honest I don't find any of the designs particularly memorable...though a few are decent. I suppose if most had been built, they would have added some nice density. But I guess we can be thankful Angel City didn't materialize...looks like a capitalist take on Stalinesque.

My favorites were City House and Olympic, The City House, and The Olympic. :) Very classy design.

wow

Two things:

1- some of the buildings posted are just on hold, not cancelled.

2- I have never seen those renderings for City House and The Olympic before, only other, uglier renderings. The ones posted actually look... nice.

I think nothing can beat the Gothic madness of Angel City in Los Angeles. Good mercy. It's almost sinister. Happiness does not dwell in Angel City. Not only would it have been ugly, but it would've been about the size of ALL of DTLA.

Fear:



http://www.blsart.com/angel/la/1.jpg

:yuck:


STEAMPUNK AMUSEMENT PARK!!!!!! :lol:

I like the 1027 Wilshire Tower. He look sexy.....so tall and commanding and....well....it is a hot tower :lol:

Park Fifth! :(

City House and the Olympic, I had not seen the second separate set. I like.
City House
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/robertson2.jpg

Olympic
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/robertson1.jpg

City House and Olympic
http://robertsonpartners.net/images/3-Front-View.jpg

Here's something I found by accident. This has to be the tallest building ever proposed for L.A. The mixed-use "Mega-Structure" was apparently proposed in early 1990 when, of course, wasn't a great time to propose any skyscrapers in L.A. I don't know how serious this was, but at 150 stories, 609.6 meters (2,000 ft), it would've become tallest in the world if it had been built at the time.

http://www.nyase.com/images/projects/trump1lrg.jpg
nyase.com

http://www.nyase.com/images/projects/trump2lrg.jpg
nyase.com

The renderings are from this firm's site and has the Donald Trump name on it.
http://nyase.com/trump_tower.php

yup, that was supposed to be built on the site of the Ambassador hotel. LAUSD used eminent domain to take the site from trump

yup, that was supposed to be built on the site of the Ambassador hotel. LAUSD used eminent domain to take the site from trump

I knew about the Trump building, but never saw any renderings aside from a generic one that didn't look like this. Having such a tall building placed apart from the main skyline sounds kinda douchey to me.

Ultimately, either way, the Ambassador Hotel was going to be torn down...

I knew about the Trump building, but never saw any renderings aside from a generic one that didn't look like this. Having such a tall building placed apart from the main skyline sounds kinda douchey to me.

Ultimately, either way, the Ambassador Hotel was going to be torn down...

Speaking of Trump, this was his proposal for the Ambassador Hotel site. It would have been the tallest building in the world if it were built.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/plinko923/Richard%20Keating/W-AMB05.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/plinko923/Richard%20Keating/W-AMB01.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/plinko923/Richard%20Keating/W-AMB02.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/plinko923/Richard%20Keating/W-AMB03.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/plinko923/Richard%20Keating/W-AMB04.jpg

Also a plan from 1957 to redevelop the Ambassador Hotel. It would have been called The Ambassador International.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/351161044_047a887b3c.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/156/351161043_6f828ccabc.jpg

The original design for California Plaza.

http://www.arthurerickson.com/gallery/large/web-calplaza3towers.jpg
http://www.arthurerickson.com/gallery/large/web-calplaza3towers.jpg

Oh and look...Cal Plaza 3.
https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRBxIon1YFWAwTUo2YZhDj5cRv6WS4UUS59bOoeSFD77ZTozn0IFw

Ooh, not bad at all.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/plinko923/Richard%20Keating/W-AMB04.jpg

Metropolis
http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2011.07_metropolis1990.jpg

^^ Hmm, ah. For the sense of density, that's all. They don't wow me.

I hope they are building Metropolis or something on the great parking lot. That space is so ugly and it is give away space

This article has to do with the 20 story FIDM tower. It seems to still underway but the bureaucrats are battling over signage:

==============

Perry, Huizar Clash Over South Park Sign Plan

Flap Involves Project Set to Change Districts Next Week

Posted: Wednesday, June 20, 2012 5:42 pm | Updated: 10:36 am, Thu Jun 21, 2012.

by Ryan Vaillancourt, Staff Writer | 0 comments

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - With new City Council boundaries about to take effect, Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry is trying to secure approval for a key project that, come July 1, will no longer be in her territory. However, 14th District Councilman José Huizar, whose expanded district will soon hold the same project, is standing in her way.

Perry today invoked a rare legislative maneuver to expedite a council vote on proposed special signage rights for properties within a certain segment of South Park, including a 21-story tower planned by the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Her move to speed the approval of the plan came after a Tuesday hearing of the Planning and Land Use Committee at which Huizar successfully pushed to delay consideration of the proposed sign district. Huizar told the panel that he needs more time to study the issue.

The city Planning Commission unanimously approved the district, which would extend special sign regulations to properties bounded by Flower, Figueroa and Ninth streets and Olympic Boulevard, in 2009. So did the Planning and Land Use Committee. Huizar, who was a member of PLUM in 2009, voted for the district at the time.

The proposed district never went to the council for a final vote, however, because the city was mired in separate litigation related to sign policy. The district was shelved until the lawsuit was resolved.

The city won that case, and the proposed sign district went back to PLUM on Tuesday. That’s when Huizar asked to delay the vote.

Perry’s move could potentially work around the delay. The motion she filed today will trigger a council vote on Tuesday, June 26, on whether to take up the signage plan. If eight members of the 15-person council agree, the proposal can then be considered for final approval.

Huizar, whose district will encompass nearly all of Downtown come July 1 if the new redistricting plan is formalized by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said he needs more time to study the special sign rules.

“A lot has changed in Downtown in three years,” said Huizar spokesman Rick Coca, in a statement. “We just want to be sure that this is still the direction we should be going in at this point. As council offices change for Downtown, we want the opportunity to fully vet this proposal and see if it makes sense going forward. It very well might, we just want the opportunity to look at it more closely.”

Backers of the proposed sign district, including a Perry staffer, offered to answer any questions at the Tuesday hearing. None were posed. The committee instead honored Huizar’s request and voted to continue the item until its next meeting, on July 31.

Perry said her move to rush the vote stems from a desire to finish a project she has worked on for eight years and to eliminate any chance of Huizar asking for new conditions before supporting the plan.

“It makes a difference when you change elected officials because incoming elected officials may have a totally different perspective,” she said. “He may want something different or new requirements. It changes the whole scenario.”

Perry called Huizar’s decision to delay a vote “business hostile” because it further postpones consideration of a plan that’s been pending for more than three years.

Since then, the affected property owners, including FIDM and the developers of housing complexes 717 Olympic and Apex, have already taken down 18,573 square feet of permitted signage, according to city records. The new sign district would allow a total of 16,761 square feet of signage, representing a net reduction of signs in the area.

Video Imagery

The proposed sign district has taken on one key wrinkle since it gained tentative approval in 2009, when a “digital animation” sign was OK’d for a proposed FIDM development.

The fashion school plans to build a 21-story tower with classrooms and offices on the first six levels and student housing above. Designs call for a 429-square-foot digital sign that would be embedded in the skin of the building. The sign would be permitted to show fashion videos and display student work.

Since approving the sign in 2009, however, the Planning Department has changed its position on video displays. The city now prohibits so-called “unrestricted animation” on digital signs.

Going forward, the council will have the option to approve the original sign district proposal — keeping the animated display rights — or a version of the plan that would only allow static images that change no more frequently than every eight seconds, according to the City Attorney’s office.

Amy Forbes, the school’s attorney, described the proposed video display as “integrating the educational mission into the building.”

Perry said she would ask the council to support the video display for the FIDM project — that is, if her motion to even consider the proposal is approved on Tuesday.

The conflict between Perry and Huizar is the latest in a string of redistricting related flaps that have had the two officials at odds for months. Jostling for control over development projects is also a common ritual during times of political transition, said Fernando Guerra, director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University.

“It’s not unusual and they both are right,” Guerra said. “If I’m Jan Perry I want to finish what I started. If I’m José Huizar, and this is going to be my district for likely the next six years, I want to make sure it conforms to my vision of what should be occurring.”

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

I'm amusing this is also a dead proposal, since the site is for sale.

G-8 Tower (8th & Garland Ave.)
http://www.loopnet.com/xnet/mainsite/HttpHandlers/attachment/ServeAttachment.ashx?FileGuid=E61B5DE3-039F-4BF0-ABB6-6A83EC4CF7D8&Extension=jpg&Width=631&Height=421&PadImage=False&DisableVisualWatermark=&ClipImage=False&ExactDim=-1&UseThumbnailAsOriginal=False

For info here: http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17351503/806-810-Garland-Avenue-and-1172-W-8th-Street-Los-Angeles-CA/

I really like this proposition (8th and Figueroa)

Any remote chance that it may see the light of day sometime in the future?

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee192/trolltoast/2585336502_c202af8764_o.jpg

interestingly enough, i was thinking of this building last night. weird, maybe its a cosmic sign lol

interestingly enough, i was thinking of this building last night. weird, maybe its a cosmic sign lol

Very weird, because it has been sitting here for months and I came back to it last night too, I don't know why.

Honestly, I don't think that was a real proposal.

Really? I still like it. :)

Always thought that would have been a very attractive building.

Hopefully something goes in there in the next couple of years. That's a very large parking lot; you could fit two towers with a similar footprint to the building in that pseudo-proposal.

Always thought that would have been a very attractive building.

Hopefully something goes in there in the next couple of years. That's a very large parking lot; you could fit two towers with a similar footprint to the building in that pseudo-proposal.

Honestly, i wish that the two parking garages book-ending the lot on flower were leveled.

If that were to happen, you would have one HUGE lot bounded by Flower, Figueroa, 8th and almost 7th where you can fit 5 - 7 towers with no problem at all.

I would love it if 5 or 6 different modern style 40 - 70 story towers with a continuous street wall were built. You could have 2 hotels, 1 office tower, 2 residential towers catering to middle income families and 1 luxory residential tower. if only i had 2 billion in spare change lying around

Sounds like a good way to turn 3 billion into 1 billion. lol.

http://www.citycenter.com/

I do like the concept of getting rid of the parking lots though.

Sounds like a good way to turn 3 billion into 1 billion. lol.

http://www.citycenter.com/

I do like the concept of getting rid of the parking lots though.

lol i was thinking something similar to city center but much more street oriented and less mall like.

WhAt about 9th and Figueroa? Back in the early 90's there was talks about a 90 story tower and would've be like 1400 ft tall whitch would've been tallest in west coast and had a similar look like one of the "world trade center" twin towers. Anybody have any rendering?

WhAt about 9th and Figueroa? Back in the early 90's there was talks about a 90 story tower and would've be like 1400 ft tall whitch would've been tallest in west coast and had a similar look like one of the "world trade center" twin towers. Anybody have any rendering?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2290/2418542140_84b10b0753_o.jpg

But Apex (Concerto) is on the site.

I found a bunch of stuff I've never seen before.

A proposal by Helmut Jahn for 8th and Figueroa.
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/317055_325496697552600_1685140040_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/317055_325496697552600_1685140040_n.jpg

Rapid Transit District HQ
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/68687_311714338930836_1033550543_n.png
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/68687_311714338930836_1033550543_n.png

A 50 story church designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/530611_317720394996897_1569713689_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/530611_317720394996897_1569713689_n.jpg

The Tower of Civilization
http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/Tower_of_Civilization%20copy.jpg
http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/Tower_of_Civilization%20copy.jpg

The Santa Monica Causeway
http://s3.amazonaws.com/production.calumet.good.is/photos/183277/original/1671625-slide-smaller.jpg?1358365147
http://s3.amazonaws.com/production.calumet.good.is/photos/183277/original/1671625-slide-smaller.jpg?1358365147

The Monument to Democracy (this would've been at the Port of Los Angeles)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4lykfgkK5Jo/UNvxpt396LI/AAAAAAAAE5s/pFqhoXU_1to/s1600/Monument-to-Democracy-San-Pedro-John-Anson-Ford-1954-1024x813.jpg

A hotel off the coast of Santa Monica
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Jqx-O4n-6c/UNvv44oU2NI/AAAAAAAAE4g/15FJKbIBGIc/s1600/CDA056web.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Jqx-O4n-6c/UNvv44oU2NI/AAAAAAAAE4g/15FJKbIBGIc/s1600/CDA056web.jpg

Frank Lloyd Wright's idea for the Civic Center
http://strangeline.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Never-Built-Los-Angeles-2-640x236.jpg
http://strangeline.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Never-Built-Los-Angeles-2-640x236.jpg

http://www.visualnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Never-Built-Los-Angeles_04.png
http://www.visualnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Never-Built-Los-Angeles_04.png

Hollywood and Vine
http://www.visualnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Never-Built-Los-Angeles_11.png
http://www.visualnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Never-Built-Los-Angeles_11.png

Civic Center Masterplan from 1940
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv354/losangelespast/EXM-P-S-LOS-ANG-CIT-BUI-581.jpg
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv354/losangelespast/EXM-P-S-LOS-ANG-CIT-BUI-581.jpg

Whatever all this is.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91li0kLGIxL._SL1500_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91li0kLGIxL._SL1500_.jpg

^^ Thanks for collecting these...they are very interesting to look at...though I'm not crazy about any of the designs in particular. The Rapid Transit District HQ looks like a lesser version of Gehry's unbuilt proposal for the NY Times Tower...the latter being a building that I would love to see realized in LA...or anywhere else for that matter. Interesting also to see the church designed by Wright...if I recall correctly, earlier in his career he didn't like highrises...but by the end of it he was coming up with mile-high skyscrapers and 50-storey churches. I'm sure if his designs were realized properly...even that blocky civic center...they would look great, as his creations invariably did.

http://www.visualnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Never-Built-Los-Angeles_05.png
http://www.visualnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Never-Built-Los-Angeles_05.png

LA Freeway Masterplan 1958
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/400017_317697648332505_31725213_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/400017_317697648332505_31725213_n.jpg

A lake in downtown.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/481224_316255861810017_485176757_n.jpg

The Ritz Hotel in the Hollywood Hills
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/547409_310926935676243_1598835450_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/547409_310926935676243_1598835450_n.jpg

Whatever all this is.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91li0kLGIxL._SL1500_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91li0kLGIxL._SL1500_.jpg[/QUOTE]


I remember this one! I believe this was one of the losing proposals for Calirfornia Center. The name was later changed to California Plaza. This one had different architects taking on each building. The white buildings in the foreground, with the red windows and the sloped side, were to be by Ricardo Legorreta from Mexico. I don't remember the other architects. I liked this one very much.

Very interesting stuff, I think the only idea I like is the lake in Downtown.

Are those things in the street just fountain-medians or some kind of suggestion at some larger infrastructure of some kind underfoot?

Here's the original 3-tower winning entry concept for California Plaza. The pic is from Arthur Erickson's website.

http://www.arthurerickson.com/gallery/large/web-calplaza3towers.jpg