Construction work on the enormous The Grand development (formerly known as Grand Avenue Project) is finally underway in Downtown Los Angeles. Delayed for years and nearly believed dead, the $1-billion mixed-use complex vis-à-vis the Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Broad museum recently celebrated its official groundbreaking ceremony with city officials and the project's architect, Frank Gehry, in attendance.

"With The Grand, we’re not just building buildings, we’re building places," said Gehry at the ceremony. "My dream is that from time-to-time, we will be able to close Grand Avenue and have street parties with projections on Walt Disney Concert Hall. The project is meant to complement and enhance the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Colburn, The Broad and the other buildings that make up the rich and exciting cultural district that is emerging on Grand Avenue."

Gehry, who turned a crisp 90 years old yesterday, also talks about his hopes for The Grand project in a short video made to celebrate the kick-off.

Video courtesy of Related.

"It's been exciting to build something so close to something I've built
before, and to be able to have them talk to each other across Grand
Avenue," remarks Gehry while overlooking an architectural model of that
Grand Avenue section which includes his iconic 2003 Disney Concert Hall as well as The Grand addition.

Developers Related Companies, in partnership with CORE USA, also released new, now much more detailed renderings of the 1-city-block ensemble comprised of two towers (one 39-story residential high-rise and a 20-story hotel), a central public plaza, and over 176,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment spaces.

Completion is expected in 2021.

Related: Watch our exclusive interview with Neutra Award for Professional Excellence recipient Frank Gehry and Archinect's Orhan Ayyüce here.