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Developer Korean Airlines today unveiled the AC Martin design for the new Wilshire Grand tower at Wilshire Boulevard and Figueroa Street and said it will be 73 stories — one floor more than the US Bank tower downtown. This could make the $1 billion hotel and office development the tallest tower west of Chicago. The US Bank tower has held that distinction since 1989. The old Wilshire Grand, opened originally as the Statler Hotel in 1952, is currently being demolished.
From the LA Times:
As designed by Los Angeles architecture firm AC Martin Partners, arriving hotel guests will be whisked by high-speed elevators to the "sky lobby" on the 70th floor for check-in to one of 900 rooms. An operator, who could bring a familiar brand name to the inn, has yet to be selected.
The 71st floor will be a restaurant. The floor above that will house window-washing gear and engineering equipment, clearing the top floor for an "infinity" swimming pool and recreation area.At street level there will be about three floors of restaurants and shops, topped by 30 floors of offices for rent.
Korean Air is the flagship company for Hanjin Group, which has $20 billion in annual revenue from its interests in land, sea and air transportation as well as construction, heavy industry, finance and formation services.
Los Angeles architect David Martin, a principal at AC Martin Partners, is designing the project. Martin designed the Figueroa-at-Wilshire high-rise across the street from the Wilshire Grand in 1990. The family firm was the primary architect of Los Angles City Hall in the 1920s.
