The Ziggurat Revealed

One of the more unusual buildings in Laguna Niguel, the Chet Holifield Federal Building, is often referred to as "the Ziggurat" and stands at the northwest  juncture of La Paz and Aliso Creek roads. It's hard to miss, since it's a deep shade of mustard yellow and resembles a pyramid. Here are five facts about the Ziggurat.

1. Its nickname is derived from the structure's resemblance to a ziggurat, a Babylonian tower having the appearance of a terraced pyramid.

2. The 1,300-acre site was originally selected as a location for five or six buildings to employ 7,500 people.

3. It was commissioned by North American Rockwell Corp. Plans began as early as 1966 to build an additional facility for the Autonetics Divisions Data and Information Systems.

4. Construction of the main building was completed in 1970 at a cost of $23 million.

5. What would have been the world's largest electronics-producing plant was never used because the number of defense contracts shrank as the United States decreased its military involvement in Vietnam.

Source: Laguna Niguel: The Legacy and The Promise.