Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Photos: The Future King Of DTLA's Skyscrapers 'Tops Out' At 892 Feet
Soon to be the tallest building on the West Coast, Los Angeles' new Wilshire Grand tower reached a significant milestone yesterday as stakeholders and workers alike celebrated the building's "topping out."
While technically the tower still has about 200 feet to go before it reaches its final altitude 1,100 feet off the ground, yesterday's celebrations were for the completion of the building's concrete "central core," the structural skeleton of the building, according to the L.A. Times. Presently rising 892 feet off the ground, the hulking Wilshire Grand tower will eventually house a 900-room InterContinental hotel, several hundred thousand feet of office-space, and about 67,000 square feet of retail space.
Once completed, the Wilshire Grand will technically be taller than the U.S. Bank Tower because of the new building's architectural spire, though the U.S. Bank Tower has a higher roof-level.
Incidentally, the Wilshire Grand tower is one of the large first buildings constructed in Los Angeles since the abolition of LAFD's more-than 50-year-old regulation No. 10, which required all skyscrapers to be built with a helipad on the roof. In theory, the helipad could be used to evacuate people by helicopter in the event of a fire. Better building practices today mean that the rule could be eliminated.
Say what you will of the tower's blasé architecture—this writer thinks the building's most notable aspect is its size alone—the tower represents a fundamental shift in the way Los Angeles' downtown is conceptualized. Along with the Wilshire Grand, literally dozens of other skyscraper projects are flying up throughout the neighborhood.
Here are a few pictures of the building as it stands now:
#wilshiregrand topping off event. Follow us all day for updates pic.twitter.com/tDkkS1eO2J
— WilshireGrandCenter (@Wilshire_Grand) March 8, 2016
Toured the Wilshire Grand building-modern high rise construction w/ buckling restrained braces that span 3 stories pic.twitter.com/fQ9CNTOaLS
— Greg Otto (@GregOtto_WPM) March 3, 2016
And a view from the top during Monday's storm!
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?