Design
The Rise and Fall of One of America's Most Innovative Hotel Chains
Statler grew up with America's cities.
Last week, architects unveiled renderings of the Wilshire Grand Tower in Los Angeles, a 71-story edifice that will, once completed, be the tallest on the west coast.
Before building begins, planners will need to remove the remains of the Los Angeles Statler, a hotel that has changed names and owners multiple times since its 1952 debut. Most recently, it was known as the Wilshire Grand. Hardly an architectural icon in a city known for its lively mid-century building stock, the Statler's demolition has come with limited nostalgia.