Metropolis, A New, Mixed-Use Development, Los Angeles, CA

Metropolis is an exciting and important, new, mixed-use megaproject on a 6.33-acre site in Downtown Los Angeles. Metropolis is one of the biggest mixed-used developments on the West Coast, and will greatly enhance Downtown LA. It will put approximately 1.8 million sf of vertical, high-density community living in the heart of the city built by connecting expansive suburbs.

Syska Hennessy Group was retained to design the essential mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems of this two-phase, multi-structure, fast-track project encompassing a luxury hotel, and retail and residential components, with plenty of elegant subterranean parking located within walking distance of L.A. LIVE, Staples Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center.

One of the project’s biggest challenges was that some MEP/FP infrastructure included extending medium-voltage power to the site and upgrading natural gas, storm and water systems to handle the development requirements. Syska determined the MEP/FP loads through collaboration with the design team, building officials and utility companies.

Phase one will feature a 21-story, four-star hotel tower and a 33-story residential high-rise tower with restaurants and retail spaces at street level. It will also feature a podium integrated into the hotel tower with a lush courtyard, meeting rooms, additional restaurants and bars, a spa, a fitness center and a pool. Phase two will consist of two residential high-rise complexes: a 47-story building and a 67-story building, featuring a podium-level park and a plaza.

Syska produced design-development bridging documents using Revit and following CALGreen Code and California’s Title 24 design requirements to ensure optimum energy efficiency. Our bridging documents defined MEP/FP requirements for design-build delivery method procurement