Bradbury Building

An Unlikely Beginning

Lewis L. Bradbury made his fortune in Mexican gold mines and wanted one last monument before he died. In 1892, he rejected the plans from architect Sumner Hunt and turned instead to Hunt’s 32-year-old draftsman, George Wyman, who had no formal architectural training. Wyman hesitated until his wife suggested they consult the spirit world. Using a planchette similar to a Ouija board, Wyman’s deceased brother Mark allegedly spelled out: “Take Bradbury Building. It will make you famous.”

The message proved accurate. Bradbury died months before the building’s 1893 opening, but Wyman created a space so striking it’s still studied in architecture schools. Drawing from Edward Bellamy’s 1887 science fiction novel “Looking Backward,” which described a future society’s “vast hall full of light,” Wyman designed an interior that floods with sunshine through a peaked glass roof.

The Light Court

Walk through the archway entrance on Broadway and the transformation is instant. What looks like just another brown brick office building from the street opens into a soaring five-story atrium where light pours down from above. Glazed brick walls in rose and gold tones catch the sunshine. Black wrought-iron railings create delicate patterns against the brightness. Two open-cage elevators still operate using their original hydraulic systems, surrounded by ironwork so ornate it resembles hanging vines.

Belgian marble stairs lead up to the first landing, the farthest point visitors can reach without business in the building. From here you can look up through all five floors to the glass ceiling or down at the Mexican tile floors. The wrought iron was crafted in France and displayed at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair before installation here.

Bradbury spared no expense. What started as a $175,000 budget ballooned to $500,000 by completion. Every material was chosen for quality: the glazed brick, the marble, the polished wood accents. Wyman painted all structural iron black to contrast with the warm tones of the walls and create what early reviews called “a sunset glow.”

A Film Star

The building’s cinematic fame began in the 1940s with film noir productions, but 1982’s Blade Runner cemented its place in pop culture. Director Ridley Scott chose the Bradbury for J.F. Sebastian’s apartment and the film’s climactic confrontation between Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer. The building appears in over 100 films and shows, from Chinatown to The Artist, serving as everything from a dystopian apartment to a Victorian hotel.

Today the building houses LAPD’s Internal Affairs division, a co-working space called Bradbury Studios, and various private offices. A Blue Bottle Coffee occupies part of the ground floor. The building’s management understands its architectural significance and keeps the ground floor open to visitors during business hours.

Making Your Visit

The experience takes maybe 15 minutes. You walk in, you look around, you climb the stairs to the first landing, you take photos, you leave changed. The best light comes in late morning and early afternoon when sunshine streams through the skylight. The building sits across from Grand Central Market and two blocks from Angels Flight, making it easy to combine with other downtown landmarks.