Omni Group breaks ground on downtown L.A.’s tallest residential tower

Canadian real estate developer Omni Group has broken ground on downtown Los Angeles’s first high rise building since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Vancouver-based developer recently closed off and razed a surface parking lot at the southeast corner of Olympic Boulevard and Hill Street, where the City of Los Angeles has approved the construction of a new 60-story tower with 700 apartments, Urbanize Los Angeles reported on April 11.

Below the tower, there will be a podium structure with parking for more than 1,000 vehicles and 15,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail space designed by architect IBI Group.

The 760 ft. glass-and-steel structure would be the city’s tallest residential tower, and the eighth tallest building in the city if completed today.

“The similarity in appearance of the mullions on the top roof screen and the facade of the podium work to create a sense of cohesiveness between the top and bottom of the building,” reads a design narrative submitted to the Los Angeles City Planning Commission in 2019.

“Angular shapes and forms including the balconies on the two sides of the building as well as the triangular shaped screen at the roof are used to create a dynamic impression.”

Construction is expected to take 30 months. Omni has already completed four high rise buildings in downtown L.A. and has plans for other projects in the future. These include two apartment towers at the former Los Angeles Times headquarters, and an Arts District tower.