The Ziggurat building in Laguna Niguel is up for auction including nearly 100 acres surrounding it, but the iconic pyramid-shaped structure will be preserved, according to federal authorities.
The owner of the land, the United States General Services Administration, will begin accepting bid requests March 7 at 9 a.m. There is a minimum starting bid of $70 million.
The federally owned property, located at 24000 Avila Road, features parking lots, guard stations, and the 1 million square foot building which is partially occupied by federal agencies.
If sold, federal authorities said it will continue to occupy a roughly 52-acre portion of the property until the end of 2024.
Officially named the Chet Holifield Federal Building, the Ziggurat is required to be preserved as it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a program of the National Parks Services.
Its historic significance is based on the building’s appearance, specifically modern Brutalist architecture.
Designed by architect William Pereira, the building’s style is rare with only seven similar structures existing nationwide, including the U.S. Bullion Depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
Because of its historical recognition, the future landowner will be required to obtain what’s known as an easement holder—to manage the preserved parts of the property. The easement holder must have “an established track record in historic preservation,” according to the federal documents.
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