If you’ve lived in Los Angeles over the past few years, you might have noticed DTLA’s rapidly changing skyline. The formerly spread out landscape is now jam-packed with glassy skyscrapers, contemporary mixed-use towers, futuristic high rises, and several construction cranes for rising projects. According to Curbed, there are dozens of ambitious projects still being planned around the burgeoning city, and the skyline will only continue to transform throughout the years.

After construction completed last year for the unintentionally tall, 73-story Wilshire Grand Center, the craze surrounding tall buildings began spreading towards districts around DTLA as well. Although the buildings in neighboring districts aren’t nearly as tall as the ones in Downtown, a common trend for developers these days seems to be “build big or go home.” 

Westlake

Courtesy of The Lake on Wilshire

The Lake on Wilshire was approved last October for construction, and it will transform an existing 14-story commercial building into a 41-story residential skyscraper, 220-room hotel, and multicultural and performing arts center in Westlake. It is the neighborhood’s first major mixed-use project near the iconic MacArthur Park. The proposed plans also call for a large Buddha statue and vibrant mosaic-patterned glass to decorate the arts center.

Koreatown

Courtesy of Gensler

The Equitable Plaza Building is officially the tallest building in Koreatown and the 26th tallest in Los Angeles. The 34-story high rise stands at 454 feet. Although this building has reigned as the neighborhood’s tallest structure since 1969, LA County’s upcoming $250 million Vermont Corridor project will add new government offices, commercial, retail, and residences to the area. One of the towers will sit on top of a podium and rise 20 additional stories. 

South LA

South LA Reef Development / Courtesy of Gensler

Although the $1.2 billion Reef development has yet to be completed or see any movement, the project was first approved through a unanimous city council vote after it was first proposed back in 2016. Since then, it’s been referred to as a “transformative” mixed-use project that will change the neighborhood. The new development would include a 20-story hotel for artists and entrepreneurs as well as two condominium skyscrapers, one rising 32 stories and the other 35 stories.

Glendale

Development along Brand Blvd. / Courtesy of Space 314

Glendale Plaza, which rises 25 stories, is currently the city’s tallest structure. According to Curbed, a neighboring newcomer will also make its mark in the city’s skyline. The project is expected to replace a parking garage on Brand Boulevard, rising 20 stories and bringing an estimated 240 residential units to the city. The project has been called uncharacteristically ambitious for Glendale, where most residential homes tend to veer towards being shorter and wood-framed.