Eric Richardson []

On October 29th, the American Institute of Steel Construction held an event at LA Live to talk about the 55-story hotel's use of steel-plate sheer walls, which cut 30% off the building weight and months off construction time.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Today's AISC event at L.A. Live offered fun facts about the construction of the project's hotel and condo tower, but for me the real star of the show was a chance to travel up the under-construction tower and get some great shots of Downtown.

Over a hundred people attended the morning event, and all got a chance to don hardhats and check out the 56-story tower's construction from the ground. A drawing offered a dozen lucky winners the chance to get an even better look, riding up the construction elevators to view the building and its surroundings from both the 26th and 45th floors. My card just happened to be one of those pulled, which saved me from having to try to beg my way aboard.

And so, without any further ado, check out these shots of construction on the L.A. Live tower and the views it will offer of Downtown Los Angeles.