The Chet Holifield Federal Building, colloquially known as "the Ziggurat Building", is a United States government building at 24000 Avila Road in Laguna Niguel, California built between 1968 and 1971, originally for Rockwell International, and designed by William Pereira. It is managed by the General Services Administration.HistoryThe building was designed by William Pereira, who developed a stepped pyramid silhouette that is rare in American architecture. The unusual form references ziggurats, ancient Mesopotamian temples.The building was originally constructed for Rockwell International, a defense and space industries manufacturer. Rockwell never occupied the building; the company no longer required it after a defense contract that it was relying on never came to fruition. The company offered to trade the building to the United States federal government in exchange for three surplus government facilities of equal value. In 1974, GSA assumed control of the building.In 1978, the United States Congress passed a bill to rename the building in honor of Congressman Chester E. "Chet" Holifield, who had represented California's 19th District from 1943 to 1974.Today, the building's primary tenants are the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Internal Revenue Service. Holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration for the Pacific region were once located in the building as well but have since been relocated to Perris, California.
