Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles

Visit duration: 30 min Editorial visit time estimate

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

About Capitol Records Building

The Capitol Records Building, also called the Capitol Records Tower, is a 13-storey tower in Hollywood, just north of the Hollywood and Vine intersection. Designed by Louis Naidorf of Welton Becket Associates, it was begun after EMI acquired Capitol Records in 1955 and completed in April 1956, and is considered the world's first circular office building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 2006.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

What's inside

With wide curved awnings on every floor and a tall spike on top, the tower resembles a stack of records on a turntable, and the blinking light at its tip spells out "Hollywood" in Morse code. On the south wall, the ceramic-tile mural "Hollywood Jazz: 1945-1972", 26 by 88 feet, shows larger-than-life images of notable jazz musicians. The building houses Capitol Studios, with three main studios (A, B and C) and eight echo chambers engineered by guitarist Les Paul.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

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Common questions

Was the Capitol Records Building designed to look like a stack of records?

No. The resemblance to records on a turntable was coincidental.

What does the light on top of the Capitol Records Building spell?

It spells out the word "Hollywood" in Morse code.

Where it is

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Nearby

Within 15 min on foot

45 min
2 min walk
Hollywood Pantages Theatre
- Must see · Heritage site
- Historic site
45 min
10 min walk
Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Must see · Heritage site
- Historic site
1 hr 30 min
15 min walk
Hollywood Museum
- High
- Museum