Project Description

Wilshire Grand

The new Wilshire Grand building will be California’s tallest skyscraper, and the tallest building west of Chicago with an elevation of 1,100 feet. The 73-story high-rise will house 5 stories of underground parking, class A office space, 900 hotel rooms, and retail shops and convention space.

Located in California just 46 miles away from the San Andreas Fault, the Wilshire Grand would need to withstand earthquakes up to a magnitude of 7.4, as well as handle strong winds. The tall slender design of the tower made resistance to seismic activity a challenge for the Schuff Steel team. It meant the structure needed to be dynamic enough to handle environmental forces from both above and below ground.

Project Details

Contractor:

Turner

Structural Engineer:

Brandow & Johnston / Thornton Tomasetti

Architect:

AC Martin

Steel Tonnage:

20,000 tons

Location:

Los Angeles, California

Schuff Services: preconstruction, design assist, structural engineering, BIM services, project management, steel detailing, steel fabrication, steel erection

All the potential solutions were put to the test using computer simulations of the structure. The result was a rectangular core comprised of thick walls to anchor structural elements to the outer walls. The Schuff Steel team also helped to integrate 120 single floor BRBs into a 6-story truss system and 50 3-story tall 2,200 kip braces from the core wall to the perimeter belt truss framing for further shock absorption. This included groundbreaking design of the jacking system for pre-compressing (10) BRBs at level 73. The Wilshire Grand project is the first to implement Narrow Gap Electroslag Welding Process in the field that met D1.8 code requirements.

“I want to thank the entire Schuff Steel organization for their dedication, commitment to quality, and incredible hard work over the past few years. In large part Schuff was the heartbeat of the Wilshire Grand project as we reached for the sky. The steel detailing, fabrication and erection process has been executed in a flawless manner. While the public marvels at today’s event, they don’t fully understand, or appreciate what went on ‘behind the scene’ allowing the spire to be set in place.

It has been a distinct privilege to work with you, and the Schuff team. Schuff is truly are best in class, and sets the benchmark for excellence.

Thank you again for helping make the Wilshire Grand project so successful.”
Kenneth Aspis, Martin Project Management

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    Wilshire Grand

    Project Details

    Contractor:

    Turner

    Architect:

    AC Martin

    Steel Tonnage:

    20,000 tons

    Location:

    Los Angeles, California

    Schuff Services: preconstruction, design assist, structural engineering, BIM services, project management, steel detailing, steel fabrication, steel erection

    The new Wilshire Grand building will be California’s tallest skyscraper, and the tallest building west of Chicago with an elevation of 1,100 feet. The 73-story high-rise will house 5 stories of underground parking, class A office space, 900 hotel rooms, and retail shops and convention space.

    Located in California just 46 miles away from the San Andreas Fault, the Wilshire Grand would need to withstand earthquakes up to a magnitude of 7.4, as well as handle strong winds. The tall slender design of the tower made resistance to seismic activity a challenge for the Schuff Steel team. It meant the structure needed to be dynamic enough to handle environmental forces from both above and below ground.

    All the potential solutions were put to the test using computer simulations of the structure. The result was a rectangular core comprised of thick walls to anchor structural elements to the outer walls. The Schuff Steel team also helped to integrate 120 single floor BRBs into a 6-story truss system and 50 3-story tall 2,200 kip braces from the core wall to the perimeter belt truss framing for further shock absorption. This included groundbreaking design of the jacking system for pre-compressing (10) BRBs at level 73. The Wilshire Grand project is the first to implement Narrow Gap Electroslag Welding Process in the field that met D1.8 code requirements.

    “I want to thank the entire Schuff Steel organization for their dedication, commitment to quality, and incredible hard work over the past few years. In large part Schuff was the heartbeat of the Wilshire Grand project as we reached for the sky. The steel detailing, fabrication and erection process has been executed in a flawless manner. While the public marvels at today’s event, they don’t fully understand, or appreciate what went on ‘behind the scene’ allowing the spire to be set in place.

    It has been a distinct privilege to work with you, and the Schuff team. Schuff is truly are best in class, and sets the benchmark for excellence.

    Thank you again for helping make the Wilshire Grand project so successful.”
    Kenneth Aspis, Martin Project Management

    Let’s talk about
    your next project