The preservation of lavish details, rich history and character of the United Artists Theatre set the stage for ACE to breathe vibrant life into downtown LA. Originally constructed in 1927, the landmark theatre has been revitalized as a performance hall and office tower repurposed as a contemporary boutique hotel. The historic Spanish Gothic style structures, commissioned by the United Artists, are flush with ornate features and elaborate murals depicting the Hollywood luminaries of its time. Today’s film industry can be largely credited to the United Artist’s founders Douglas Fairbanks, D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, and Mary Pickford and their opening of the studio’s flagship premier house. The ACE Hotel sought to restore this “Old Hollywood” hangout to its original charm and splendor, while inserting a hip, urban vibe, that’s signature to the ACE brand.
Paying homage to the building’s past and preserving its story, the design team performed a careful edit – restoring the character of the tower and theatre and adding a measure of eclectic contemporary aesthetic. The 146,000 sqft. renovation includes 181 guestrooms and suites, a rooftop lounge and pool respite, specialty restaurant and lounge, event and meeting space and a 1,600 seat theater for live performance events. The historic lobby is a social link - hotel registration and guest services, signature restaurant LA Chapter, Stumptown coffee bar and a cozy mezzanine lounge flank either side. The original terra cotta façade on Broadway was cleaned and repaired. New windows were installed, matching the original profiles. A concrete seismic frame was installed for the full height of the tower, meeting modern seismic codes, while modern utilities, building systems and emergency egress upgrades completed the renovation.
ACE DTLA serves as a catalyst for development in downtown LA as it continues a cultural, creative and commercial rebirth of its own.
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