A First Look at the Big Plans for South Park's Metropolis

Friday's record-setting pour at Wilshire Grand wasn't the only big news downtown this weekend. The groundbreaking for the long-awaited Metropolis development was a lot more exciting than shovels in the dirt because it also included a big reveal of never-before seen conceptual renderings and models. So many of downtown's notoriously halted projects have been in the news recently because they're no longer stalled. Big development is moving forward in downtown, often times because of foreign investment, as is the case with Gensler-designed Metropolis, which is backed by the Chinese group Greenland USA. The first phase of development at Metropolis will see two high-rises--a residential tower and 19-story fancy hotel--join the skyline; no word on when you'll be able to move into the residential units (also undecided: whether they'll be condos or apartments), but Brigham Yen over at DTLA Rising says the hotel is planning to open in February 2016. 

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New Wilshire Grand Renderings Show Sky Lobby And The Highest Rooftop Pool On The West Coast

          

The 1950s-era Wilshire Grand hotel has been completely demolished and construction on its 73-story office/hotel/retail skyscraper replacement has begun (see last photo). Now we have new renderings (via broker/blogger Brigham Yen) of the tower by architect AC Martin—these have not yet been approved by developer Korean Air—including many of the seventieth-floor sky lobby, to which guests will shoot up in an express elevator before checking into their rooms (very Lost in Translation). The renderings show a spire that can change color to reflect holidays and observances, and a rooftop pool that will be the highest on the West Coast (an "outdoor living room" is also planned). The hotel will be four stars and have 900 rooms, run by an operator to be announced soon—choices have narrowed down to two; rumors indicate it'll be a Grand Hyatt or a Waldorf-Astoria (!!). The tower should open in early 2017.

                      

Sky pool deck 

    

Outside the hotel lobby at Seventh and Fig 

    

Inside the hotel lobby 

    

Ground-floor lobby 

    

Sky lobby seating 

    

Bar at the sky restaurant, above the sky lobby 

    

Sky restaurant 

    

Cross-section of the top floors