Several sources have named Le Meridien as the hotel that will be chosen for the new Wilshire Grand Center in Downtown LA (Photo: Wilshire Grand Center)
One of the most exciting new projects in Downtown LA’s redevelopment future is the $1 billion Wilshire Grand Center that has now begun pre-construction work with the dismantling of the existing Wilshire Grand Hotel at 7th and Figueroa. Here will rise LA’s new second tallest skyscraper at 70 stories tall, developed by Korean Air and AC Martin, with a combination of retail, restaurant, office, and hotel with an exciting unique “sky lobby” at the very top. Earlier this week, officials gathered in front of the Wilshire Grand Hotel for a press event to kick off the demolition, which entails bringing the hotel down floor-by-floor, taking a year to complete before construction on the actual tower begins.
When completed in 2017, the Wilshire Grand Center will augment LA’s burgeoning downtown skyline as a new gleaming high rise. According to the Wilshire Grand Center website, a new 900-room four-star hotel will be part of the new tower that “will set a new standard in design, luxury, and hospitality.” In addition, the project will feature a completely unique-to-LA “sky lobby” 70 stories above the city that will provide “sleek, glamorous, upscale rooftop dining and views.”
Although a hotel operator will not be officially announced until early next year, several sources point to Starwood’s Le Meridien as the hotel that will go into the new landmark tower. Currently, Le Meridien is completely absent from the LA market after closing their Beverly Hills location in 2008, which was converted to an SLS. For now, there are only two locations in California: one in San Francisco and another in Palm Springs. If true, Le Meridien would make a huge splash coming back into the LA market in the form of the Wilshire Grand Center and may join a slew of other luxury hotel brands currently scoping out locations in nearby South Park like Virgin Hotels and Kimpton.
The Wilshire Grand Hotel began demolition this month, which is preparing construction for the new $1 billion Wilshire Grand Center
Brigham,
I keep seeing different renderings of the plan. Let’s hope that the latest (with the cage-like) top does not make final approval. The original design is best, though I’m still disappointed about the scaling down in height. It could have been the next iconic structure in downtown Los Angeles
With so many parking lots they chose a hotel they have to dismantle first. They could have saved their 24 million dollars and just picked a parking lot, and start building without no dismantleing of a hotel.
@Sebastian – While agree that it would have been nice for them to develop and empty parking lot, the hotel and land have belonged to Hanjin (the holding company for Korean Air) for some time so they’re really just redeveloping their own land. I think the new project will be a better use of the land than the existing hotel, but I wish they owned other empty parking lots nearby. Hopefully we’ll see a hotel construction boom on the many empty lots in South Park.
@William. The final design of the tower remains a bit of a mystery. I think it will maintain the sweeping style we see here. Although the scaled down height is a bit disappointing, I think it will still be fairly tall and the tower could still be iconic since it will fill in the skyline and have a more contemporary design than surrounding building in the area.
I just hope for the best design possible. The AC Martin firm does put out good work. To me this project represents a once in a lifetime effort–it should be iconic. As we all know ugliness can last a long time, and sad to say downtown Los Angeles has many examples.
So far, there are few examples worse than Macy’s Plaza in such an amazing location:
http://brighamyen.com/2012/03/30/lipstick-on-a-pig-7-million-renovations-planned-for-macys-in-downtown-los-angeles/
I think that its really only second tallest by floor, up to the roof… i honestly think it will be LA’s next tallest due to that fin like thingy and the spire which adds an extra what…200-250ft???? idk we’ll have to wait and see i guess.
It will be great to add a super tall building to our skyline. But it’s kind of rough to think that it could be 4-5 years before this building is finished.
I remember when Macy’s (then the Broadway) plaza opened. In fact, I still have a promotional piece that was circulated in the Los Angeles Times at the time I think in 1973. The design was considered so contemporary for its day. But then that was when platform shoes and “glam” rock (e.g. David Bowie, and Lou Reed) were “hot.” Boy, times have changed. The place is sort of “bland-ugly-retro.”
I’m excited to see a Le Meridien in that spot. Now if we could just get a decent hotel here in Silver Lake.