Construction of Los Angeles' current tallest building, the Wilshire Grand Center, reached completion in 2017.
The Construction Timeline
Development progressed as follows:
- 2014: Demolition of the former Wilshire Grand Hotel finished, clearing the site.
- Early 2014: Official groundbreaking for the new tower occurred.
- 2014-2017: Core construction of the main tower and adjacent hotel took place.
- June 23, 2017: The final structural beam was placed, marking the building's "topping out".
- 2017: The Wilshire Grand Center officially opened to tenants and the public.
Context and History
The Wilshire Grand Center's completion in 2017 ended the reign of the Library Tower (now known as the U.S. Bank Tower), which had held the title of LA's tallest building since its completion in 1989.

This development marked a significant shift, as it was the first building constructed in Los Angeles under modern building codes permitting a structure taller than the long-standing 150-foot (46-meter) height limit established in the 1950s due to seismic concerns. The tower's distinctive crown and spire contribute significantly to its overall height of 1,099 feet (335 meters).
Prior to the U.S. Bank Tower (1989), the title of tallest building belonged to the City Hall building (completed 1928) until 1956, when the 516-foot (157 m) Union Bank Plaza surpassed it. The Security Pacific National Bank building (now 611 Place) then became tallest in 1968 at 550 feet (168 m), followed by the Aon Center (formerly First Interstate World Center) at 858 feet (262 m) upon its completion in 1973.