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.
W
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
37
