A premier office in Downtown Los Angeles 

Standing on the highest point in Bunker Hill in Downtown Los Angeles, the Wells Fargo Center was pivotal in the area’s transformation into a premier business and cultural district. Its two towers, trapezoidal in profile and clad in Taivassalo red granite, introduced a distinct addition to the city’s growing skyline. Rising 54 stories, the North Tower initially housed the Southern California headquarters of Crocker National Bank, which merged with Wells Fargo Bank in 1986. SOM’s Los Angeles office now occupies the 36th floor, joining a diverse range of tenants that form a vibrant workplace. The South Tower, at 45 floors, is separated from its counterpart by a glass-enclosed atrium and three-story pavilion, and shares an open plaza that descends to the sidewalk on Grand Avenue.

Reimagining the lobby for a modern workplace

SOM was commissioned in 2016 to refresh North Tower’s lobby into a modern entry. Removing thick marble columns, the renovation creates a greater sense of openness throughout the lobby—providing larger pathways for natural light to enter, better sightlines across the space, and areas for artwork designed by local artists. Higher ceilings, 20-foot-tall glass windows, white Carrara marble, Virginia Mist granite floors, and stainless steel accents give the lobby an inviting feel. Security checkpoints now sit beside the elevators to create easier walking paths. Four custom paintings, “Sierras I, II, III, IV” by Spanish-born artist Antonio Murado, now serve as a visual focal point inside.

Establishing a public amenity

In 2020, SOM completed a renovation of the plaza and atrium, creating the Halo: a revitalized public amenity featuring lounges, restaurants, a daycare center, and alternative workspaces both indoors and outside. 

The original atrium was designed by SOM in collaboration with landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, who also designed the nearby Bunker Hill Steps. With limited seating and outdated infrastructure, the Wells Fargo Center needed a contemporary amenity, and SOM worked with Halprin’s estate to sensitively reconstitute his original vision while modernizing the space for the public.

The Halo, nestled between the towers, transforms a previously closed-off space with a three-story glass facade—establishing a transparent “living room.” It doubles the original seating capacity, improves accessibility, and in addition to the restaurants and workspaces, includes a tenant-exclusive space on the third floor with al fresco dining, meeting and lounge spaces, and a wellness studio. 

Outside, SOM removed privacy walls to create a greater sense of openness and public accessibility.  A staircase surrounded by greenery descends to the sidewalk, connecting the plaza to transit and the surrounding neighborhood. The original bronze statues by Los Angeles-based artist Robert Graham, once hidden inside the pavilion, were preserved and moved outdoors to be featured more prominently across the plaza beside fountains and landscaping.