Watch the Wilshire Grand get its spire, making it the tallest building in Los Angeles

With the spire, the skyscraper soars to 1,100 feet

By Will Weber Sep 6, 2016, 11:20am PDT

Construction crews hoisted the final piece of a steel spire atop the Wilshire Grand this weekend, crowning the 73-story skyscraper the tallest building in Los Angeles.

The spire is the final piece of tower’s distinct sail-shaped roofline, which will include an observation deck and an open-air pool. It’s the first skyscraper with a pointed roof to be built in downtown Los Angeles since 1974, when city regulations required all new skyscrapers to have flat tops for helipads.

The spire, which measures just under 295 feet, makes the Wilshire Grand 1,100 feet tall. The decorative piece was installed in eight segments. The top piece is an LED beacon that can be programmed to light up in varying colors. "The intention behind this is to use the Spire Tip light to celebrate special events in the city such as holiday colors in December or special events in Los Angeles such as Dodger Blue when they win the Pennant," says Chris Martin, CEO and Chairman of AC Martin, the building’s designers.