Los Angeles's skyline (previously ranked slightly below Minneapolis's) is about to get just a little bit more exciting. City officials announced today that new high-rises will no longer be required to have helipads on their roofs, the 1970s-era code that created LA's boring, flat-topped profile. The rules were showing signs of bending to the times—the 73-story Wilshire Grand in the Financial District will be the first to take advantage of an updated LA Fire Department policy allowing for "modified helicopter-landing space," plus extra stairwells, reinforced elevators, and added safety features, all allowing for a roof that slopes.
When it was approved, the Wilshire Grand was called "an important first step" in changing the design requirements, but the code was still officially in place—until today. A release from Councilmember Jose Huizar says "The new policy will allow City of L.A. architects to create the kind of iconic pitched-roof building designs seen in other world-class cities while meeting the highest standards for fire-life safety."
· LAFD Finally Relaxes Los Angeles's Flat-Topped Building Policy [Curbed LA]
· LAFD Thinking About Changing LA's Stubby Skyline Code [Curbed LA]
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