It’s been about seven weeks since our Update #4 on the 488-room, 20-story Le Méridien/AC Hotel project at the corner of 15th and California, so let’s take a look at the construction progress. The tower is in the midst of its climb into the sky, so change comes fairly quickly—about one floor every week or so.

The view from California Street between 15th and 16th, showing the project’s contribution to the California street wall:

Straight-on corner shot at 15th and California:

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The 15th and California sides of the tower have been the only perspectives available from the rendering provided by the developer, White Lodging:

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Now that the building is going vertical, we can gain a better understanding of the tower’s footprint, and the final plans approved by the city also clarify the facade materials we’ll see on all sides. This angle from 15th Street looking towards California shows that the tower consists of two narrow wings in an L-shape configuration, rising up from a three-story base:

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This is the alley side of the tower from near 15th and Stout Street:

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And this is the view from 14th Street looking above the side of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company building:

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As the above rendering shows, the California side will be almost entirely a glass and aluminum window wall system with a vertical band of red brick near the corner, while the 15th Street side will be mostly red brick with punched windows. According to documents on file with the city, the stub end of the wing facing the alley will be mostly EIFS with a few vertical bands of windows. The stub end of the wing adjoining the Bubba Gump building will be solid EIFS. The two facades on the inside of the “L” will be a mix of EIFS and aluminum and glass punched windows. Overall, the effect will be similar to what I discussed under “Option 1” in our Update #1 post, using the recently completed Hyatt Place/Hyatt House (by the same developer) as an example. Fortunately, there will be virtually no EIFS on either the California or 15th Street elevations, so those two sides with their glass and brick should look pretty good.

There will be two short drop-off lanes, one each on 15th and California, for passenger loading and valet. No parking (automobile or bicycle) is provided within the project. There are no minimum parking requirements within the Downtown Core (D-C) zone. A 30-foot high glass wall will frame the lobby at the corner of 15th and California:

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The 20th floor will contain guest amenities including a fitness center and an outdoor bar and lounge along the California Street side.

The dual-branded Le Méridien/AC Hotel property is scheduled to open in October 2017.