Capitol Records Building

캐피틀 레코드 빌딩

The world's first circular office building, a 13-storey tower ringed by sunshades like a stack of records; the red light atop its spire blinks "Hollywood" in Morse code.

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At a glance

Country: United States
Location: Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA
Built: 1956
Height: 46 m
Type: Skyscraper

Quick answers

Where is Capitol Records Building?

Capitol Records Building is in Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA, United States.

When was Capitol Records Building built?

Capitol Records Building was built in 1956.

How tall is Capitol Records Building?

Capitol Records Building is about 46 m tall.

The Capitol Records Building is a round, 13-storey tower in Hollywood, Los Angeles. It was designed by Louis Naidorf of the firm Welton Becket Associates and finished in April 1956, soon after the British company EMI bought Capitol Records. It is considered the world's first circular office building.

People have long said it looks like a stack of records on a turntable, with the tall spike on the roof as the spindle, although that resemblance was a happy accident. Inside are recording studios and special echo chambers. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places, and Los Angeles named it a Historic-Cultural Monument in 2006. It is nicknamed "The House That Nat Built", because singer Nat King Cole sold so many records for the company.

Why is it round?

Naidorf drew the circular design when he was only 24, based on his school drawings. Capitol's president at first wanted a rectangular building, so Naidorf gave him both. The company's lender thought the round one would attract attention and be easier to rent, so the company chose it. The wide curved awnings over the windows on each floor and the spike on top make it look like a record player. A tall tower was allowed only up to 150 feet then, and this one fits within that limit.

What is the blinking light?

The red light at the top of the spire blinks the word "Hollywood" in Morse code, a system of dots and dashes. The idea came from Capitol's president at the time, Alan Livingston, who wanted to advertise that Capitol was the first record label based on the West Coast. The light was switched on by Leila Morse, granddaughter of Samuel Morse, who invented the code. In 1992 it blinked "Capitol 50" for the company's fiftieth birthday.

Fun facts

The light on top of its spire blinks 'Hollywood' in Morse code.
The blinking light spells "Hollywood" in Morse code.
The thirteenth floor is the "Executive Level", and the building's two elevators label it with an E instead of a 13.
The architect drew the circular design when he was only 24 years old.