Construction threatens recording studio

LOS ANGELES, April 23 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles City Council is being asked to withdraw preliminary approval for construction of a high rise next to the landmark Capitol Records building.

Capitol executives charge the developer's plan to build an underground garage for the 16-story building will damage the below-ground echo chambers Capitol Records uses for high-end recordings, The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

Finished in 1956, the Capitol tower was the world's first circular office building. It's famed echo chambers were designed by guitarist Les Paul and have been used for recording artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to Natalie Cole.

"Capitol Records is extremely concerned about the viability of us being able to continue to run Capitol Studios in the face of the admittedly significant adverse impacts that will be caused by construction," said Maureen B. Schultz, senior vice president, in a letter to city council members.

An acoustical study done by an Oakland firm acknowledges that ground-borne noise from construction activities may temporarily impact operation of the echo chambers, the Times said.