Construction worker at the Wilshire Grand Center takes a hair-raising break over 1,000 feet above Los Angeles.
Top of the world —
Construction worker at the Wilshire Grand Center takes a hair-raising break over 1,000 feet above Los Angeles.
gary leonard/wilshire grand
The Wilshire Grand will be the tallest building on the West Coast when it opens in spring 2017, at 1,099 feet. The building will offer a mix of hotel rooms, office space and leisure facilities. <br /><br />Skyscrapers in California have not come close to their East Coast counterparts such as the One World Trade Center, as architects must account for working in one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world.
Dizzy heights —
The Wilshire Grand will be the tallest building on the West Coast when it opens in spring 2017, at 1,099 feet. The building will offer a mix of hotel rooms, office space and leisure facilities.

Skyscrapers in California have not come close to their East Coast counterparts such as the One World Trade Center, as architects must account for working in one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world.
Gary Leonard/Wilshire Grand
The Wilshire Grand used a number of innovative techniques to offer safety at such heights, from computer simulations to building capacity for movement.
Groundbreaking —
The Wilshire Grand used a number of innovative techniques to offer safety at such heights, from computer simulations to building capacity for movement.
Gary Leonard/Wilshire Grand
The skyscraper is equipped with a seismic joint connecting the base and the tower that allows for sway in case of an earthquake, and greater movement at high altitude.
Rock and roll —
The skyscraper is equipped with a seismic joint connecting the base and the tower that allows for sway in case of an earthquake, and greater movement at high altitude.
Gary Leonard/Wilshire Grand
The building utilizes a concrete core, with additional support from an external steel frame, which architects compare to skiing poles that provide balance.
Ski trip —
The building utilizes a concrete core, with additional support from an external steel frame, which architects compare to skiing poles that provide balance.
Gary Leonard/Wilshire Grand
The long, narrow design of the tower required additional support for the steel frame. Engineers used outriggers at three levels, and also buckling-restrained braces that offer greater flexibility in a seismic event.
Shock absorption —
The long, narrow design of the tower required additional support for the steel frame. Engineers used outriggers at three levels, and also buckling-restrained braces that offer greater flexibility in a seismic event.
Gary Leonard/Wilshire Grand
Seismic engineers subjected the building design to a battery of simulated earthquakes, including variations of previous earthquakes that have struck California. The design was adjusted several times to account for the findings of these tests.
Gaming the system —
Seismic engineers subjected the building design to a battery of simulated earthquakes, including variations of previous earthquakes that have struck California. The design was adjusted several times to account for the findings of these tests.
Gary Leonard/Wilshire Grand
The design team also allowed for a degree of acceptable damage. This includes coupling beams intended to crumple safely in the event of an earthquake without injuring residents.
Break point —
The design team also allowed for a degree of acceptable damage. This includes coupling beams intended to crumple safely in the event of an earthquake without injuring residents.
Gary Leonard/Wilshire Grand
The Wilshire Grand also relies on extraordinarily strong foundations, which involved breaking world records.
Strength in depth —
The Wilshire Grand also relies on extraordinarily strong foundations, which involved breaking world records.
Gary Leonard/Wilshire Grand
The longest continuous concrete pour in history took place during a day and night session over 18 hours, using 82 million pounds of concrete.
All night long —
The longest continuous concrete pour in history took place during a day and night session over 18 hours, using 82 million pounds of concrete.
Gary Leonard/Wilshire Grand
One of the greatest design challenges was the roof, which was originally designed as a lacy "Eiffel Tower-style" spire, but did not suit local conditions.
Eiffel Tower —
One of the greatest design challenges was the roof, which was originally designed as a lacy "Eiffel Tower-style" spire, but did not suit local conditions.
AC Martin
The original version would have been vulnerable to ordinary wind at high altitude as well as seismic events, so the design evolved into a more robust and resilient version.
Stiff breeze —
The original version would have been vulnerable to ordinary wind at high altitude as well as seismic events, so the design evolved into a more robust and resilient version.
Gary Leonard/Wilshire Grand
Structural engineer Leonard Joseph says the Wilshire Grand has been the most challenging skyscraper project he has worked on, having previously overseen the construction of the Shanghai Tower and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. <br /><br />But Joseph believes the major challenges have been overcome ahead of the tower opening next year, and the knowledge gleaned from the project will enable further ambitious projects.
Pushing the limits —
Structural engineer Leonard Joseph says the Wilshire Grand has been the most challenging skyscraper project he has worked on, having previously overseen the construction of the Shanghai Tower and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

But Joseph believes the major challenges have been overcome ahead of the tower opening next year, and the knowledge gleaned from the project will enable further ambitious projects.
tHORNTON tOMASETTI
West Coast skylines are set to soar with the development of new techniques for safer building in the region. The Wilshire Grand will soon be joined by several more towers over 1,000 feet tall, including the <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSalesforce_Tower" target="_blank" target="_blank">Salesforce Tower </a>in San Francisco and the <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2F4%2FC" target="_blank" target="_blank">4/C </a>in Seattle.
Rising up —
West Coast skylines are set to soar with the development of new techniques for safer building in the region. The Wilshire Grand will soon be joined by several more towers over 1,000 feet tall, including the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco and the 4/C in Seattle.
MARK RALSTON/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Emerging techniques such as dampers, similar to those used in the Taipei 101 tower, are continuing to advance the field of earthquake engineering, making safer, taller construction possible.
Cushion the blow —
Emerging techniques such as dampers, similar to those used in the Taipei 101 tower, are continuing to advance the field of earthquake engineering, making safer, taller construction possible.
Ashley Pon/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images for Autism Speaks