Bank of Italy Building (Los Angeles)

The Bank of Italy Building is a historic building in Los Angeles, California, United States, known for many years as Giannini Place.[2] It was converted to a hotel in 2018 and currently operates as Hotel Per La.

Bank of Italy Building
Map
General information
Architectural styleNeoclassical
Location649 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, California, United States
Coordinates34°02′49″N 118°15′20″W / 34.04692°N 118.25568°W / 34.04692; -118.25568
Completed1922
Cost$34,000,000
OwnerSydell Group
Height
Roof194ft
Technical details
Floor count12
Design and construction
Architect(s)Morgan, Walls & Clements[1]

Location

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The building is located on the corner of 7th Street and Olive Street in Downtown Los Angeles.[3][4]

History

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The 12-story building was completed in 1922,[3] and it was dedicated in 1923.[4] It was built as the Los Angeles headquarters of the Bank of Italy, a forerunner to Bank of America founded by Amadeo Giannini.[4] It was designed by the architectural firm Morgan, Walls & Clements,[3] in the Neoclassical architectural style with "Doric columns, ornate golden ceiling and marble floors."[4] The bronze front doors are surrounded by terra cotta sculptures of American coins.[5]

It belonged to the Chetrit Group, until it was acquired by the Sydell Group for US$39 million.[4] From 2015 to 2017, the building was remodeled into the NoMad Los Angeles Hotel, with additional investments from billionaire Ronald Burkle.[4][6] The hotel opened in 2018,[7] but closed in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened in 2022 as the Hotel Per La.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Downtown L.A. Revival continues with remake of opulent Giannini building". Los Angeles Times. 16 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Checking in on DTLA's NoMad Hotel". 29 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Giannini Place". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e f Vincent, Roger (April 16, 2015). "Downtown L.A. revival continues with remake of opulent Giannini building". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  5. ^ "strolling on 7th street: downtown's historic thoroughfare" (PDF). Los Angeles Conservancy. p. 3. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  6. ^ Barragan, Bianca (April 16, 2015). "FiDi's Neglected and Beautiful Bank of Italy Building Becoming Another Hipster Hotel". Curbed. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  7. ^ "The new Los Angeles NoMad Hotel officially opens for business January 21". 9 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Hotel per la to Open at the Former NoMad Hotel Site in Downtown Los Angeles".
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