L.A., San Diego see big investments.

Elevators, Escalators, Moving Walks Part of LAX Expansion

Elevators, escalators and moving walks linking a new, US$2.7-billion automated people mover (APM) to various floors of expanded terminals at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are part of a US$336-million contract awarded by Los Angeles World Airports to Austin Commercial Inc. of Dallas to build the seven terminal extensions, the Los Angeles Business Journal reported. The centerpiece of a US$5.5-billion program to ease congestion at LAX, the APM was out for bid earlier this year. Both the APM, which will take travelers to three sites — a car rental facility about 1 mi. away, a metro station and the central terminal area — and terminal extensions are due for completion in approximately 2023.

Downtown L.A.’s Building Boom Extends West

Los Angeles’ building boom looks to extend west of downtown, with plans announced for 1111 Sunset, a US$600-million, 1-million-sq.-ft. development that includes 31- and 49-story residential towers, the Los Angeles Times reported. Planned on 5.5 acres between downtown and Dodger Stadium at the site of the former headquarters of the Metropolitan Water District, the “new neighborhood hub” is from developer Palisades and lead architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, both of L.A. Besides the residential towers, 1111 Sunset would have a 17-story hotel designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, shops, restaurants, public space and low-rise, bungalow-style residences. The plan was making its way through the approval process earlier this year and could be complete by approximately 2023.

Waterfront-Transforming Seaport San Diego Update

A US$1.5-billion project will transform 70 acres of tourist spots, parking lots and a fish processing plant on San Diego’s bayfront into a glittering entertainment and tourist area highlighted by a 500-ft.-tall observation tower, The Architect’s Newspaper reported in January. Seaport San Diego, now larger, taller and more expensive (ELEVATOR WORLD, January 2017), will include Seaport Village, a popular dining and shopping complex downtown on San Diego Bay, and will add a marine-focused charter school, a 178,000-sq.-ft. aquarium and nature and recreational amenities. The tower, named “The Spire,” will have a metal-clad central column surrounded by glass gondolas that will carry visitors up to the observation deck. Renderings show a high-rise building that will include lodging; three hotel brands offering prices from affordable to luxury have signed onto the project. Developer Protea Waterfront Development, LLC plans to break ground in 2021, and construction is expected to wrap up in 2024 or 2025.

Work Underway on San Diego High-Rise Apartments

Bosa Development, known for its luxury condominium projects in San Diego, has begun work on its first rental project in the city, a high-rise apartment complex that includes a pair of towers, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The downtown project, with 20- and 41-story towers, will house 617 apartment units within its 720,000 sq. ft. It will offer nearly 19,000 sq. ft. of retail and other amenities, including an eighth-floor “sky terrace” with a swimming pool and fitness room. Architect Joseph Wong said the taller tower will rise to about 500 ft. The building will be at Seventh Avenue and Broadway, where demolition of buildings began in December 2017. The as-yet-unnamed project is set for opening in 2020.