Friday marked the Los Angeles Times’ last day in the historic downtown headquarters that had been its home since 1935.
Owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong announced in April that the newsroom would move to El Segundo, southwest of Los Angeles, citing a rent increase from the owners. He wants to create a modern space that “respects the work and the lifestyle of the people who work in the newsroom,” he told staff in April.
Soon-Shiong bought the Times from Tronc in a $500 million deal deal finalized June 18.
“Times Mirror Square was home, no matter the unsentimental truths that had driven the business out of downtown,” reporter Thomas Curwen wrote in a piece about the building’s history.
As they packed up desks and prepared to move, staff shared their memories and said farewell on Twitter to the building.
Nothing says “newspaper moving day” like bubble-wrapped #Pulitzers. Today is our last day in Times Mirror Square. #dtla ➡️ #elsegundo pic.twitter.com/o1RuPddGDg
— Steve Clow (@steveclowLA) July 20, 2018
I’d always dreamed of working in the historic @latimes building, and I’m so glad I got the chance. It was weirder and better than I ever imagined. We’ll really miss it.
In journalism, -30- marks the end of a story. But for us, this is just a new chapter. Onward to El Segundo! pic.twitter.com/08iGKP3RwP
— Laura J. Nelson 🦅 (@laura_nelson) July 20, 2018
-30- is old newspaper code for “end of story,” and it hangs over the exit of the L.A. Times. Generations of journos have taken their photos with the -30- when leaving this place for good.
Now it’s my turn. Except we’re leaving the building and taking the newspaper with us.
-30- pic.twitter.com/gJGJcyCUOQ— Matt Pearce 🦅 (@mattdpearce) July 20, 2018
And we’re outta here. A bittersweet “-30” to @latimes’ longtime HQ in downtown LA. Monday we will be in El Segundo. pic.twitter.com/1kr76faX7b
— geoffrey mohan (@LATgeoffmohan) July 19, 2018
Another item to add to Michael Ferro’s long list of misdeeds: He made off with the massive rosewood boardroom table in the @latimes building. (A film crew discovered its disappearance. The show they were filming? “The Devil You Know.”) https://t.co/oTBYHsjZdl @tcurwen pic.twitter.com/jB3unhe0Iu
— Laura J. Nelson 🦅 (@laura_nelson) July 20, 2018
So many Spring Street farewells on my feeds. We're definitely losing a bit of ourselves with this move. Truly bittersweet but now on to a new edition of The @latimes pic.twitter.com/ePrsCjFjwz
— Steve Devol (@stevendevol) July 20, 2018
-30- pic.twitter.com/sRjV6umkCK
— Brittny Mejia (@brittny_mejia) July 20, 2018
The next time I walk into the Times building, it’ll be in El Segundo. Goodbye to this weird old broad. pic.twitter.com/oirFUaESu3
— Kristina Bui 🦅 (@kbui1) July 20, 2018
Feature’s – empty…
Globe Lobby – almost empty… (save the Globe !)
Pulitzer Wall – coming down… LAT AME #ColinCrawford clearing out last of Photo Dept. Guess I better accept that after my 34 years (almost half the life of this edifice) the LA Times is moving ! pic.twitter.com/IIwySEshnO— Al Seib (@AlSeibPhoto) July 20, 2018
A very last-day-of-school vibe happening in the office as we pack up our boxes and prepare to walk out the door here for the last time.
The @latimes audience engagement team — class of 2018: pic.twitter.com/vFwtht1lPu
— Jessica Roy 🦅 (@jessica_roy) July 20, 2018
Back in April, data desk editor Ben Welsh took followers on a guided tour of the Times' headquarters.
The new @latimes owner is moving the newsroom from its historic HQ to El Segundo.
I've been lucky enough to inhabit and explore the interlocking buildings at 1st and Spring for over a decade.
I'd like to share it with you. It's a beautiful day in #DTLA. Shall we take a wander? pic.twitter.com/PYnRwVraHf
— Ben Welsh (@palewire) April 14, 2018
There's also a tribute to four @latimes reporters who died on duty.
One, Ruben Salazar, has become a legend on LA's Eastside and a symbol of Chicano professionalism and success. He's even on a stamp. pic.twitter.com/YbwYg1y0o2
— Ben Welsh (@palewire) April 14, 2018
Alright my phone is charged and we're back in the Globe Lobby.
It displays some of the most famous work from @latimes history.
My favorite are the handdrawn World War 2 maps of Charles Owens, shown working here. pic.twitter.com/HvlxuP3adY
— Ben Welsh (@palewire) April 14, 2018
