08.22.18
Leaders Breakfast Returns to DTLA Wilshire Grand InterContinental
IIDA Southern California Chapter Leaders Breakfast committee is ecstatic to bring this year’s program back to the magnificent Wilshire Grand InterContinental in Downtown Los Angeles. The design team behind this masterpiece, AC Martin, further describes the architectural concept: “The client didn’t want the top of the building to be exclusive, but rather desired a ‘neighborhood in the sky’ of sorts – this was to be the differentiator. It consists of the highest open air rooftop bar in the United States, several bars and restaurants including a sushi restaurant, all-day dining and marketplace, steakhouse and a series of public lounges, all of which are publicly accessible.” Meeting and ballroom spaces occupy floors five through seven, including the grand ballroom – the third largest ballroom in Los Angeles. Encompassing over two million square feet across seventy three floors, the Wilshire Grand is sure to stun at our Leaders Breakfast program next month.
The average Angeleno may not be aware, but by code, high-rise classified buildings within city boundaries are required to have a helicopter pad. AC Martin describes this unique challenge: “We worked with the building and fire departments to change the code by implementing more modern and efficient methods of both fire rescue and fire suppression. We added a very large holding tank of water stored onsite in the parking garage and a dedicated fire department elevator with three foot thick concrete walls surrounding the elevator shaft. We also added a third exit stair from the upper floors of the tower – more than what is required by code. We were able to achieve a more complex, three dimensional rooftop design and overall help other high-rise projects in the future achieve a unique building shape.” This building has aesthetically changed the iconic skyline of Downtown Los Angeles, and IIDA Southern California is very enthusiastic to return to its grandeur on Thursday, September 13th.
Wilshire Grand Center Quick Details:
- Client: Hanjin International Corporation/Korean Airlines
- Architect: AC Martin
- Structural Engineer: Brandow & Johnston, Inc./Thorton Tomasetti
- General Contractor: Turner Construction Company
- Hotel Ownership: InterContinental Hotels Group
- Construction Commenced: 2012
- Construction Completed: 2017
- Total Tower Height: 1,100 ft.
- Floor Count: 73
Floor Area: 2.1 Million SF
This year’s Leaders Breakfast program is sure to deliver inspiration with the lineup of powerful speakers: keynote speaker Ruth Carter (Black Panther Costume Designer), honoree Jayna Zweiman (Co-creator of the Pussyhat Project and The Welcome Blanket movement) and last but not least, moderator extraordinaire, Cheryl Durst (CEO of IIDA Headquarters). IIDA SoCal extends the invitation to attend our Leaders Breakfast 2018 event to our entire community. Also returning to this year’s event, is a mimosa bar upon check in, cheers!
Thursday, September 13th, 7 – 10am
InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown
900 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Purchase tickets and become a sponsor today at iida.org. For more information about the event, visit the event page here.
Valet Parking:
Enter from 7th St (between Francisco St. and Figueroa) and drive forward. Enter the hotel via the ‘EVENTS’ entrance. Take the elevator/escalator to the 5th floor – Wilshire Grand Ballroom. When leaving, take the elevator/escalator down to the P1 level – this is the pick-up location for Valet Parking. Valet Parking fee is $22. Please note there is no self-parking in the building.
Metro/Subway:
Convenient walkable distance from the 7th St./Metro Center station
