Commercial Architecture April 2018 - 37

PROJECT

hvac

The Wilshire Grand Center 73-story
glass-and-steel skyscraper stands in the
footprint of the old Hotel Statler, later
known as the Wilshire Grand, in Los Angeles. Photo: Wilshire Grand Center

L.A.'s Wilshire Grand Center Stands Tall
High-efficiency Bell & Gossett and A-C Fire HVAC and fireprotection systems help achieve sustainability and safety goals.

hen the Hotel Statler opened in down-

skyline-changing icon of modern design and a catalyst

yet to be built, the importance of this type of coopera-

town Los Angeles in 1952, it was the larg-

for L.A.'s economic rebirth.

tion increases exponentially."

est post-Depression construction project

The Wilshire Grand Center is also notable for achiev-

in the United States. One of the major features of the

ing new levels of safety and sustainability, from its rein-

HIGH-EFFICIENCY HVAC

$25-million project was that its 13 stories were "entirely

forced concrete core for earthquake and fire protection,

Efficient use of energy within buildings is a primary fo-

air conditioned"-the pinnacle of a modern hotel in the

to its radiant heating and cooling systems that use a frac-

cus of industry guidelines, such as ASHRAE 90.1, that

early '50s.

tion of the energy of a forced-air system.

have a direct impact on HVAC-system design and instal-

The Hotel Statler, later known as the Wilshire Grand,

"The interdisciplinary collaboration among engi-

lation. In addition, California's Title 24 is a set of energy-

would become an L.A. cultural icon, hosting celebrities,

neers, architects, mechanical contractors, and others in

efficiency rules that govern new-building construction to

politicians, and businesspeople from all over the world.

the design-build process is resulting in new commercial

improve water efficiency, along with efficiency standards

Yet, over time, its heating and cooling systems became so

buildings that maximize technology to better use materi-

for mechanical systems.

inefficient that not even a $20-million makeover could

als and energy to improve the health and safety of occu-

The Wilshire Grand Center design team, led by AC

save the aging hotel, setting in motion the 5-yr. construc-

pants. Keeping costs in line and preserving resources for

Martin Architects, Los Angeles (acmartin.com), worked

tion of a new hotel, offices, and retail space.

the future are intertwined in the process," said Mark

with energy consultant Glumac, Los Angeles (glumac.

A 73-story glass-and-steel skyscraper now stands in

Handzel, vice president, Product Regulatory Affairs, and

com), to perform extensive energy modeling to design

the footprint of the old hotel, its distinctive rooftop spire

director, HVAC/Commercial Building Services Ameri-

the glass façade, which informed the design of the HVAC

making it the tallest building west of Chicago. The

cas, Xylem AWS, Rye Brook, NY (xylem.com). "When

and lighting systems-the two biggest energy users within

$1.35-billion Wilshire Grand Center opened in 2017 to

you consider that half of the residential and commercial

a building.

international acclaim for its sophistication and luxury, a

buildings that will exist in the United States in 2030 have

With an HVAC system accounting for as much as

commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

APRIL 2018

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

http://www.acmartin.com http://www.xylem.com http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture April 2018