Two California Plaza: What You Actually Get at 350 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles CA 90071

Two California Plaza: What You Actually Get at 350 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles CA 90071

If you’ve ever looked at the Los Angeles skyline and noticed that shimmering, curved glass tower reflecting the Pacific sunset, you’re looking at 350 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles CA 90071. Most locals just call it Two Cal—short for Two California Plaza. It’s a 52-story behemoth that defines the Bunker Hill district. But honestly? It’s more than just a place where lawyers and financial advisors go to grind out billable hours. It represents a specific era of LA’s architectural ambition that tried to turn a hilltop into a "city of the future."

Bunker Hill used to be a neighborhood of Victorian mansions. Then it was a slum. Now, it's a forest of steel. 350 South Grand is the centerpiece of that transformation. Completed in 1992 by Hathaway Dinwiddie and designed by the firm Arthur Erickson Architects, it stands 750 feet tall. It’s huge. It’s also slightly shorter than its sibling, One California Plaza, but don't tell the tenants that; the views from the upper floors of Two Cal are arguably better because you get a clearer shot of the Hollywood Hills and the Pacific Ocean on a day when the smog isn't acting up.

The Reality of Working at 350 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles CA 90071

Walking into the lobby is an experience. It’s massive. You've got that classic 90s corporate "grandeur" vibe—lots of stone, high ceilings, and a sense that important things are happening. The building is managed by CIM Group now, and they’ve dumped a lot of money into keeping it modern. You aren't walking into a dusty relic. You’re walking into a LEED Platinum-certified skyscraper. That’s a big deal for a building this size because cooling a 1.3 million-square-foot glass box in the California heat is a nightmare for energy efficiency.

The tenant roster is a "who's who" of corporate power. You’ve got the heavy hitters like Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. and a bunch of massive law firms like Munger, Tolles & Olson. If you’re visiting for a meeting, give yourself an extra fifteen minutes. The security is tight—as it should be—and the elevator banks can be a maze if you aren't paying attention to the floor groupings.

But here is what most people don't realize: the building is basically its own ecosystem. It’s connected to the Omni Los Angeles Hotel. It’s got a massive courtyard. There’s the Watercourt at California Plaza, which is technically a public space but feels like a private oasis. During the summer, they host the Grand Performances concert series. You can be a high-powered attorney on the 40th floor by day and then walk downstairs to see a free Afro-beat concert by 6:00 PM. It’s a weird, beautiful contrast that only really happens in Downtown LA.

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Why the Location at Bunker Hill Matters

Location is everything. If you’re at 350 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles CA 90071, you are at the literal peak of the city. Bunker Hill is the highest point in DTLA. This used to be where the city's elite lived in the late 1800s before they all migrated west to Pasadena and Beverly Hills. For decades, the area was a bit of a ghost town after 5:00 PM. Not anymore.

You’re steps away from The Broad museum. Seriously, you can see the "veil and vault" architecture of The Broad from the lower-floor windows. You’ve got MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) right across the street. Walt Disney Concert Hall? A five-minute walk. If you’re a partner at a firm in Two Cal, you aren't just paying for the office space; you’re paying for the proximity to the cultural heart of the city.

The transit situation is... well, it’s LA. Parking in the underground garage is expensive. Kinda painfully so. But the building is right near the Civic Center/Grand Park Metro station. Plus, you have Angels Flight—the world's shortest railway—literally right there. It connects the hilltop offices of Grand Avenue to the food stalls of Grand Central Market on Hill Street. It’s a 120-year-old funicular that costs a buck and saves you a brutal walk up a very steep hill. Most office workers use it to grab lunch at Eggslut or Horse Thief BBQ.

The Architecture and Design Nuance

Arthur Erickson, the architect, was a legend. He didn't want Two California Plaza to be just another boring rectangle. The building features these distinct "steps" and curves that make it look different from every angle. It’s clad in blue-tinted glass that reflects the sky. Sometimes it looks invisible. Sometimes it looks like a solid block of sapphire.

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Inside, the floor plates are large—roughly 25,000 square feet. This is why it attracts big companies. You can fit a lot of cubicles or glass-walled offices on a single level. The column-free corners are the "trophy" spots. If you’re an associate and you get a corner office at 350 South Grand, you’ve basically made it. The windows are floor-to-ceiling, which is great for light but can get pretty toasted in the afternoon. Thank god for high-end HVAC.

What it Costs and Who Owns It

Let's talk money. Real estate in 90071 is some of the most expensive in the country. We are talking about Class A+ office space. Rents fluctuate, but you're usually looking at top-of-market rates. CIM Group bought the building years ago and has successfully navigated the "return to office" struggles that hit other towers. Why? Because people actually want to be in this specific part of town.

It’s not just offices, though. The building is part of a larger complex that was originally supposed to include a third tower. That third tower never happened. Instead, we got more open space, which honestly was a better trade-off. The vacancy rates here tend to be lower than the regional average because the prestige of the address still carries weight in the legal and financial sectors.

If you're heading to 350 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles CA 90071 for the first time, here is the ground truth. The entrance is on Grand Avenue, which is a one-way street heading south. If you miss the turn for the parking garage, you're going to spend ten minutes circling the block because of the way the "layers" of DTLA are built. Remember, DTLA has multiple levels—Upper Grand, Lower Grand, and sometimes even "Lower Lower" Grand.

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  • Parking: The garage entrance is tucked away. It's valet-heavy but there is self-park. Just be prepared to pay $40+ if you're there all day without validation.
  • The Food Situation: Don't eat in the building every day. Walk to Grand Central Market. It's better for your soul.
  • The Secret Spot: The Watercourt. It’s one of the best places in the city to just sit and exist without being asked to buy something.

The Future of Two California Plaza

Is the office tower dead? People have been saying that since 2020. But walk through the lobby of 350 South Grand on a Tuesday morning and it feels pretty alive. The building has adapted by leaning into the "lifestyle" aspect of work. They've improved the fitness centers, added more high-end coffee options, and doubled down on the outdoor programming.

There’s a certain resilience to Bunker Hill. It’s survived economic downturns, the "doughnut hole" effect of the 90s when everyone fled downtown, and the rise of remote work. Because it’s anchored by the courts and the financial hub, it will always have a baseline of activity.

If you are looking at leasing space here, you’re looking for stability. This isn't a trendy startup warehouse in Silicon Beach. This is where the "grown-up" money lives. It’s quiet, it’s polished, and it’s arguably the most professional atmosphere in the zip code.

Actionable Steps for Visitors and Tenants

If you have business at 350 South Grand, don't just show up and wing it.

  1. Check the Grand Performances schedule. If you're planning a late afternoon meeting, see if there is a concert afterward. It makes the commute home way more tolerable if you wait out the traffic by listening to live music by the fountains.
  2. Verify your level. Ensure your Uber or GPS is set to "Upper" Grand. If you end up on Lower Grand, you’ll be staring at a concrete wall and loading docks instead of a lobby.
  3. Use the Omni connection. If you're flying in from out of state, stay at the Omni. You can walk to your meeting at Two Cal via a climate-controlled walkway without ever touching the sidewalk.
  4. Download the tenant app. If you work there, the CIM Group usually has an app for building access and amenities. It saves a lot of hassle at the security desk.

350 South Grand Avenue isn't just a coordinate on a map. It’s the high-water mark of Los Angeles corporate architecture. Whether you're there for a court deposition or a summer concert, it commands your attention. It’s big, it’s blue, and it’s not going anywhere.