Caltrans District 7 Headquarters

The Caltrans District 7 Headquarters in downtown Los Angeles, designed by Thom Mayne and his firm Morphosis Architects, stands as a bold testament to contemporary architectural innovation. Located at 100 South Main Street, this futuristic building features a striking L-shaped plan with its two distinct masses: a 13-story tower set back from the street and a smaller four-story volume extending from it. The most notable aspect of its design is the mechanical skin on the facade, which responds dynamically to environmental conditions by opening and closing based on temperature and sunlight, thus creating a constantly evolving appearance.Beyond its visually captivating design, the building is also an exemplar of sustainable architecture. Photovoltaic cells on the southern facade generate 5% of the building's energy needs while providing shade from direct sunlight. The design encourages energy conservation with skip-stop elevators, promoting stair use among occupants. Public spaces on the ground floor, including an exhibition gallery, retail stores, and a cafeteria, add to the building's community-centric approach. This architectural marvel earned Thom Mayne the prestigious 2005 Pritzker Prize, highlighting the successful blend of aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability.