LOS ANGELES | Wilshire Grand Development | 1,100 FT | 73 FLOORS | U/C - Page 100

sw5710 · #**1981** Posted **Aug 31, 2014, 5:49 PM**

I was downtown yesterday.They have started to install the perimeter columns. They go from P3 to the lobby level.

WTCman7301 · #**1982** Posted **Sep 2, 2014, 6:01 AM**

I was driving down the 101 Freeway and saw the core, that thing is huge!!! Can't wait once it's part of the skyline.

dachacon · #**1983** Posted **Sep 5, 2014, 12:20 AM**

Untitled by rudowntown, on Flickr

by rudowntown, on Flickr

Untitled by rudowntown, on Flickr

mdiederi · #**1984** Posted **Sep 6, 2014, 12:44 AM**

Great photos, thanx.

sw5710 · #**1985** Posted **Sep 7, 2014, 6:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

Wilshire Grand

Flashback 6 months ago 3/6/2014

mdiederi · #**1986** Posted **Sep 10, 2014, 12:02 AM**

Some pics.

wilshiregrandcenter.com

Design-mind · #**1987** Posted **Sep 10, 2014, 2:41 AM**

Thanks for posting those mdiederi! Love the crane cab photo - best seat in the house!

NYguy · #**1988** Posted **Sep 14, 2014, 11:15 AM**

http://graphics.latimes.com/wilshire-grand-skylight/

Massive skylight would be skyscraper's signature element, but at what cost?

By Thomas Curwen
September 14, 2014

Few quotes from the article...

Quote:

Construction manager Scott Borland had no doubt that the skylight rising above the entrance to the New Wilshire Grand was spectacular.

But then, everything looks good on paper.

Draped between the 1,100-foot skyscraper and its seven-story companion, the skylight runs nearly the length of a football field, dropping 65 feet — like a ski slope — as it flows between the two buildings and marks the entrance to the hotel.

Twenty years' experience on high-rises in Manhattan has made Borland a practical man. As construction executive in charge of day-to-day operations for the New Wilshire Grand, he found the skylight an extravagance that would certainly cost more than the $3-million estimate.

He wondered if it were even possible to build such a structure. Then how would it react during an earthquake? Could it support the weight of a cleaning crew?

Martin and his design team might not like what Borland had to say, but he couldn't keep his opinion to himself.

mdiederi · #**1989** Posted **Sep 14, 2014, 5:40 PM**

From the same article:

http://graphics.latimes.com/wilshire-grand-skylight/

sw5710 · #**1990** Posted **Sep 14, 2014, 7:05 PM**

It will be interesting to see them install that skylight. As of yesterday they are installing the rebar for the western side of P2

Downtown Los Angeles · #**1991** Posted **Sep 15, 2014, 2:24 AM**

In case of an earthquake i hope that lamination will not allow the glass to shatter.

Downtown Los Angeles · #**1992** Posted **Sep 15, 2014, 2:29 AM**

It's going to be quite beautiful though.

Austin55 · #**1993** Posted **Sep 15, 2014, 3:56 AM**

I love graphics detailing things like this. Could look at them all day.

c1tyguy · #**1994** Posted **Sep 15, 2014, 4:12 PM**

Am I the only one who isn't impressed with the glass atrium? To me, it looks like a water slide. It'll be just that when it rains. I think the same affect could be accomplished using plexiglass (plastic). It would be much more interesting to me if there was some undulations or something (think Transbay Terminal).

simms3_redux · #**1995** Posted **Sep 17, 2014, 12:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by c1tyguy

Am I the only one who isn't impressed with the glass atrium? To me, it looks like a water slide. It'll be just that when it rains. I think the same affect could be accomplished using plexiglass (plastic). It would be much more interesting to me if there was some undulations or something (think Transbay Terminal).

TB Terminal is no longer glass and is VE'd to pieces. Very disappointing.

On that note, I still get irritated when "@ 1,100 ft Wilshire Grand will be the tallest building west of Chicago" is thrown around. Mainly for 2 reasons:

1) The tallest occupiable floors will still be in the US Bank Tower (>950 ft), by a substantial margin. I think both TB Tower (912 ft) and Columbia Center (>920 ft) in Seattle will have higher occupiable floors, as well, though it will be fairly close

2) If you take away the spire, there will be several buildings on the W Coast that are taller than Wilshire Grand (3 to be precise) and the tallest would be Transbay by a substantial margin.

Roof height for Wilshire Grand is 934 ft, and that's the ornamental roof. The highest floor looks to be between 850-880 ft up. Maybe someone with a diagram can help. This must be what people in Chicago feel like towards 1WTC, however, 9-11 happened and 1WTC has been pushed forth as an American tower more than a New York tower...so not totally translatable.

I have to say, same thing going on in Philly. Comcast's new tower will be taller than both WG and TB towers (tallest outside of NYC and Chicago), and it's all because of a spire. The 1st Comcast Tower will have a substantially higher roofline, as well as higher occupiable floors, and yet it's losing the crown to the new guy with the spire!

Valyrian Steel · #**1996** Posted **Sep 17, 2014, 1:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

TB Terminal is no longer glass and is VE'd to pieces. Very disappointing.

On that note, I still get irritated when "@ 1,100 ft Wilshire Grand will be the tallest building west of Chicago" is thrown around. Mainly for 2 reasons:

1) The tallest occupiable floors will still be in the US Bank Tower (>950 ft), by a substantial margin. I think both TB Tower (912 ft) and Columbia Center (>920 ft) in Seattle will have higher occupiable floors, as well, though it will be fairly close

2) If you take away the spire, there will be several buildings on the W Coast that are taller than Wilshire Grand (3 to be precise) and the tallest would be Transbay by a substantial margin.

Roof height for Wilshire Grand is 934 ft, and that's the ornamental roof. The highest floor looks to be between 850-880 ft up. Maybe someone with a diagram can help. This must be what people in Chicago feel like towards 1WTC, however, 9-11 happened and 1WTC has been pushed forth as an American tower more than a New York tower...so not totally translatable.

I have to say, same thing going on in Philly. Comcast's new tower will be taller than both WG and TB towers (tallest outside of NYC and Chicago), and it's all because of a spire. The 1st Comcast Tower will have a substantially higher roofline, as well as higher occupiable floors, and yet it's losing the crown to the new guy with the spire!

That's the official height. You don't have to agree with it.

Plokoon11 · #**1997** Posted **Sep 17, 2014, 2:25 AM**

Philly's tower's spire is much more bulkier, compared to this one. But spire height is spire height.

Guiltyspark · #**1998** Posted **Sep 18, 2014, 1:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by unanimity

i was excited to see a 101st page cuz i thought there'd be new progress pics or updated renderings. but all i got was people being mean

Yeah, it is a — show.

Anyway, I think the glass covered atrium will be absolutely beautiful and is going to be what really sets this building apart (although the glass crown and spire are going to be amazing as well, especially when lit at night).

Valyrian Steel · #**1999** Posted **Sep 18, 2014, 1:17 AM**

Here's a construction update from yesterday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dachacon

Photo Update 09/16/14

100_7621 by rudowntown, on Flickr

100_7622 by rudowntown, on Flickr

100_7623 by rudowntown, on Flickr

100_7624 by rudowntown, on Flickr

100_7625 by rudowntown, on Flickr

100_7626 by rudowntown, on Flickr

simms3_redux · #**2000** Posted **Sep 18, 2014, 1:23 AM**

Can someone remind of the overall square footage of the tower? With 73 floors and the footprint it's occupying, this thing is going to be HUGE - look at all those cranes!

Also, on that note - is there a flag yet for the hotel?