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Our last photo update from the Wilshire Grand Center showed the 73-storey tower's reflective glazing, steel skeleton, and concrete core making a big impact on the Los Angeles skyline. Since then, definite progress has been made and a significant achievement was met this week. The concrete core has reached its final height of 252 metres (826 feet), a major milestone for what will soon become the tallest building in the United States west of the Mississippi River.
Turner Construction workers were joined by officials from project architects AC Martin Partners in celebrating the accomplishment, which took 744 days to achieve after the foundation pour began. The final steel beam was also lifted into place, scrawled with the signatures of workers and dignitaries. The long-standing tradition of placing a tree atop the last beam — a rite traced back to ancient Scandinavia — was observed during the ceremony.
Forum contributor HunterKerhart was also on hand for the event, taking some outstanding photos in the process. The sleek curtain wall cladding is particularly impressive on a cloudless day, when the sun bounces off the mirror-like facade.
Though the core is now complete, the building still has a ways to go before architecturally topping out with its glimmering crown and spire. It will eventually stand 335 metres (1,100 feet) above Figueroa Street and Wilshire Boulevard, overtaking the U.S. Bank Tower as the tallest building in Los Angeles.
The previous Wilshire Grand Hotel that had occupied the site since 1952 was removed to accommodate the Korean Air-developed tower. A hotel will be resuscitated at the site however in the form of 900 state-of-the-art rooms. It will complement 700,000 square feet of Class A office space and over 45,000 square feet of retail and restaurants. The tower's potential for bird's-eye views will be fully exploited with a sky lobby featuring upscale rooftop dining and a glamorous infinity pool.
The Wilshire Grand Center is incorporating the latest green technology in an effort to limit its environmental impact. Set to attain LEED Silver certification, the building will feature an innovative lighting and climate system to reduce energy consumption, plus a water capture system that will be used to irrigate the project's varied landscaping. The materials from the previous building will be recycled, an arrangement made possible by deconstructing the hotel rather than imploding or demolishing it.
The completion date for the project was also formally announced at the event. Set to coincide with the birthday of Yang Ho Cho — chairman of Korean Air owners Hanjin International Corp. — a March 8, 2017 opening has been earmarked.
Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
