The extensive government building that has captivated online users with its eerie hallways is now unveiling some peculiar secrets. Former workers and visitors are sharing insights about what existed within California’s unsettling structures before they became popular for their so-called ‘back rooms.’
The Chet Holyfield Federal Building in Laguna Niguel, affectionately nicknamed “The Ziggurat” due to its tiered pyramid shape, sold recently for over $207 million after generating considerable buzz online.
This enormous 1 million-square-foot federal facility was bought by an affiliate of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian Church, as reported by the General Services Administration on Tuesday.
Officials remarked that this transaction represents one of the largest land sales for redevelopment in Orange County, stating it yielded more than $207 million and saved taxpayers around $340 million in potential upkeep and renovations.
“The sale of the former Chet Holyfield Federal Building generated more than $207 million in proceeds and saved American taxpayers more than $340 million in long-term repair and upgrade costs,” stated GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst.
Constructed in 1971, this substantial building was designed by architect William Pereira, recognized for projects like San Francisco’s Transamerica Pyramid and parts of the University of California, Irvine. At one point, it housed several federal agencies, including around 2,000 employees from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
However, by the time it was first auctioned in 2023, the building was roughly half full.
The initial sale, which required the building’s preservation, did not attract any bids.
An ensuing auction in 2024 drew in more than $160 million in offers but resulted in no successful bids, prompting the government to list the property for sale earlier this year.
Robert Braithwaite, CEO of Hogue, expressed that the health system feels honored to take on responsibility for the Holyfield estate. He continued, “We aim for a careful, long-term strategy that will enable Hogue to serve southern Orange County residents and businesses better.”
Yet, no redevelopment plans have been detailed yet.
While discussions around the building’s future occur, its bizarre interior has already become a legend online for its deserted office spaces, extensive geometric hallways, towering escalators, and stark brutalist styling, which users have compared to the infamous world known as “Back Room.”
People who claim to have explored the building before its online fame are now recounting their eerie experiences.
“About 30 years ago, my neighbor’s mom worked at the tax office, and she let a friend and me go there. It felt surreal, like stepping into a time capsule,” one commenter shared.
“The old office furniture and storage from the ’60s and ’70s are interesting—so much yellow and green. It’s quiet, but it has this stale smoke smell that lingers.”
Some claimed the basement had artificial windows designed to mimic daylight.
Another commenter with a strange experience joked, “They should’ve filmed the backroom there before the actual ‘Back Room’ was made. They could’ve saved a lot!”
Years later, another individual who worked in the federal building mentioned that its dark reputation was not unfounded.
“I was a federal contractor there in the mid-2010s. The building felt vast and oddly captivating. I could only explore a portion of it.”
The comment section on a related YouTube video is filled with similarly unsettling sentiments.
One viewer expressed, “Evil seems to linger there. It’s unsettling to see. What happened here to create such a negative vibe? It looks like it needs to crumble.”
The expansive, often vacant corridors and timeless governmental ambiance have made it popular among photographers and urban explorers searching for spooky sites.
Laguna Niguel Mayor Gene Johns noted that city officials were somewhat blindsided by the sale announcement and have yet to receive any redevelopment proposals from Hogue.
He anticipates that transforming the aging landmark will require years, given its size and historical relevance.
“This is a significant opportunity for our city,” Johns mentioned. “It’s a vital part of our community’s essence and will open up numerous opportunities. Still, we don’t have clarity on Hogue’s plans; no proposals have come to us yet.”
