Our challenge was to lead the investment and development execution for what would become the crown jewel of L.A. LIVE—a vertically integrated, high-rise luxury hospitality and residential tower in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. Partnering with AEG, the master developer of the L.A. LIVE district, we were tasked with delivering a large-scale, multi-use asset amidst stakeholder complexity, brand integration requirements, and intense public visibility.

We delivered an institutional-grade, full-cycle development and asset management solution:

• Co-invested in the asset through a joint venture with AEG
• Oversaw full development lifecycle for a 54-story high-rise tower
• Managed relationships across hotel brands (JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton), residential marketing, and construction stakeholders
• Aligned investment strategy with LEED-Silver sustainability goals
• Integrated world-class food, beverage, and amenity programming to enhance long-term value

This tower anchors a 4M sq. ft. mixed-use entertainment district featuring the GRAMMY Museum, Regal Cinemas, Club Nokia, Nokia Theatre (host of the Emmy, ESPY, and AMA Awards), 20+ restaurants, and ESPN West Coast HQ—all centered around Nokia Plaza.

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Delivered a skyline-defining asset featuring:

• 878-room JW Marriott
• 123-room Ritz-Carlton Hotel
• 224 for-sale Ritz-Carlton Residences
• 100,000 sq. ft. of event/meeting space
• Achieved full sellout of luxury residences totaling $400M+
• Hospitality program includes acclaimed venues: WP24 by Wolfgang Puck, The Mixing Room, ION Rooftop Bar
• Certified LEED-Silver for sustainable design and operations
• Received multiple industry accolades including: 
  
  • Development of the Year (Americas Lodging Investment Summit)
  • Global Award for Excellence (Urban Land Institute)
  • Community Impact Award (Los Angeles Business Council)

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LegacyFirst’s leadership in this high-profile urban development solidified L.A. LIVE as Southern California’s premier entertainment and hospitality destination. The project generated durable, diversified cash flow and capital appreciation across hotel, residential, and retail verticals—demonstrating our ability to unlock and manage $1B+ mixed-use assets with institutional precision, long-term vision, and value creation at scale.