FREEHAND LA HOTEL
Location: 416 W. 8th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Size: 116,230 sf
Developer: Sydell Group LLC
Contractor: Shangri-La Construction
Architect: KFA Architecture
The Freehand LA hotel is an adaptive reuse and upgrade of LA’s historic, 116,230 sf Commercial Exchange Building, located at 8th and Olive Streets in downtown LA. Developed by the New York-based Sydell Group, Freehand LA is part of Sydell Group’s upscale hostel/hotel chain that caters to group, international, and youth travelers. The 13-story, 226-room Freehand LA combines the young and hip vibe of a hostel with all of the amenities of today’s trendiest hotels. It features suites, premium hotel rooms and shared accommodations with as many as six beds that can be reserved by groups or individually. Upgraded amenities include enhanced bedding, valet and bellman service, and room service. Freehand LA features street-level shops and four venues for dining and socializing. The building was the first in its immediate vicinity built to the maximum allowable building height. It also boasted three high-speed elevators, offices with abundant light, elegant mahogany trim and millwork, and coveted two-hour street parking in the immediate vicinity.
Location: 3301 S Hoover St, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Size: 1,250,000 sf
Developer: USC
Contractor: Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company
Architect: Harley Ellis Devereaux
The University of Southern California’s $700 million investment in the 15-acre USC Village on its University Park Campus academic core is the largest mixed use development in the history of South Los Angeles. The project created 5,400 construction jobs and 800 permanent jobs in the project’s restaurants and shops. It brings much-needed retail options, including Target, Trader Joe’s, Bank of America and Starbucks along with more than 20 small business shops, restaurants and lifestyle amenities to the campus and neighborhood.