Vickrey-Brunswig Building
historic place
The Vickrey-Brunswig Building, located in Los Angeles County, was erected in 1888. Designed by architect Robert B. Young, this five-story structure was among the city's earliest and considered Los Angeles's first "skyscraper." Businessman William Vickrey commissioned the building, which initially housed the Eastside Bank, along with ground-floor retail and upper-floor lodging. In 1897, the F. W. Braun Drug Company purchased the building. It was renamed the Brunswig Building in 1907 after Lucien Napoleon Brunswig acquired a controlling interest, becoming a significant center for pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution. The County of Los Angeles later acquired the building, using it for various county offices, including a courthouse and crime lab. After being vacated following the 1971 Sylmar earthquake, the building underwent restoration and reopened in 2011 as LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. This historic place reflects Los Angeles's rapid transformation in the late 19th century.