Opened in 1893, the Bradbury Building is certainly notable for its age and grandeur, but perhaps most impressive is its supporting role in more than eight feature films, including The Artist (2011), Blade Runner (1982), and Double Indemnity (1944).

The building underwent a complete restoration in the early 1990s as part of the Yellin Company’s Grand Central Square project.

The identity of the building’s final architect is a subject of debate. Lewis Bradbury, a mining and real estate millionaire, commissioned Sumner Hunt to create a spectacular office building. Hunt turned in completed designs but was replaced soon after by George H. Wyman, who supervised construction.

According to Wyman’s daughters, he was asked to take over because Bradbury felt that Wyman could understand his own vision for the building better than Hunt, although there is no evidence that Wyman changed the design. Wyman later designed other buildings in the Los Angeles area, but the Bradbury Building (if indeed it was designed by Wyman) was to be his only work of lasting significance, whereas Sumner Hunt went on to design many other notable buildings, including the Southwest Museum.