Construction to Begin on New High-Rise

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held this morning in Century City to kick off work on the 24-story MGM Tower. The $150-million project near the Century Plaza Hotel is the tallest building to be constructed in Los Angeles in nearly a decade. The building--scheduled to be completed by spring 2003--will serve as headquarters for entertainment firm Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., which will occupy about 60% of the 700,000-square-foot structure. The project owner, Chicago-based JMB Realty Corp., overcame years of opposition from nearby residents and City Councilman Mike Feuer about concerns of worsening traffic congestion. The tower, on Constellation Boulevard, was designed by Los Angeles architect Scott Johnson.