The Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles is undergoing deconstruction to make way for a $1 billion project comprising a 900-key 4-Star hotel, 400,000 square feet of Class A office space, and more than 45,000 square feet of retail and F&B venues. Local architecture firm AC Martin is designing the complex, highlighted by a 70th-floor sky lobby. The building, developed by Korean Air, will open in 2017.
The project will showcase a number of sustainable elements. For example, the existing structure is being dismantled piece-by-piece rather than imploding or demolishing it, allowing for the recycling of metal, concrete, and wood. Smart lighting and climate systems will reduce energy consumption, while water will be captured and recycled for landscape irrigation. The development will seek LEED Silver certification.
