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Directly across from the undulating waves of the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall, another project by the starchitect is ready to make its rise. The Grand, a mixed-use development located in Downtown Los Angeles, has now broken ground, ending nearly two decades of pre-construction planning.
The development is comprised of two towers with hotel, residential and commercial retail space surrounding an art-filled public courtyard. The 39-storey residential tower will contain nearly 400 units, one fifth of which are being dedicated for low-income residents. A 20-storey, 309-room Equinox hotel occupies the shorter volume. The exterior changes materality and geometry, employing glass and metallic cladding in deference to the stainless steel envelope of the concert hall.
The Grand is being produced through a public-private partnership comprised of the County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, the former Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, Related Companies, and CORE US, a joint venture between China Harbour Engineering Company and CCCG Overseas Real Estate that joined the project in November 2018.
"With The Grand, we're not just building buildings, we're building places," said architect Frank Gehry in a released statement. "We are trying to make a place for people not only to live, but also to gather after concerts or performances, and my hope is that it will spawn other growth in the neighbourhood. My dream is that from time-to-time, we will be able to close Grand Avenue and have street parties with projections on Walt Disney Concert Hall. The project is meant to complement and enhance the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Colburn, The Broad and the other buildings that make up the rich and exciting cultural district that is emerging on Grand Avenue."
SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
