New photos from architectural photographer Hunter Kerhart reveal the swift construction progress of what will soon be the tallest building in Los Angeles. The 73-storey Wilshire Grand Center is well on its way to an eventual height of 1,100 feet, and the building's distinctive sail-shaped massing is now visible from many points around the Greater Los Angeles area. The Wilshire Grand Center's impressive height will eventually surpass not just every other building in Los Angeles, but every American building west of the Mississippi River.

Wilshire Grand Center rising into the Downtown Los Angeles skyline, image by Hunter Kerhart

Activity on the site commenced back in 2012 with the demolition of the previous Wilshire Grand Hotel, from which the project draws its name. Shoring work started shortly after, and by mid-2013 excavation of the site was under way. A crane was installed at the base of the excavated pit in the final weeks of that year. The next major milestone was reached in June 2014, when the tower's concrete core appeared above street level, marking the first above-grade construction for the project. Since then, the Wilshire Grand Center has grown to roughly two thirds of its final height.

Aerial view of the Wilshire Grand Center, image by Hunter Kerhart

As the tower has grown taller, more curtain wall cladding has been applied to the exterior, providing a glimpse of how the building will appear upon completion. The cladding being used for the Wilshire Grand Center is unique because it will support programmable LED lighting, allowing the tower to put on light shows that include digital ads, scrolling text and non-commercial graphics, that are visible from miles away.

Cladding progress at the base of the Wilshire Grand Center, image by Hunter Kerhart

Developed by Korean Air and designed by architects AC Martin Partners, the $1-billion development will contain 677,000 square feet of office space on floors 3-37 and a 900-room InterContinental Hotel occupying floors 38-69. The final few floors of the tower will feature a 70th storey skybar, two restaurants, a pool, and an outdoor observation deck. Construction is currently scheduled for completion in 2017.

Wilshire Grand Center rising into the Downtown Los Angeles skyline, image by Hunter Kerhart

Additional information and renderings can be found in our Database page for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the project's dedicated Forum thread, or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.