On October 1, the City of Los Angeles officially put shovels in the ground. This isn't just a symbolic gesture; it's the definitive and final starting gun for one of the most significant projects Webcor, in a joint venture with PCL, will undertake this decade.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Los Angeles Convention Center Expansion and Modernization Project was a major event, a clarion call from City Hall that this project is non-negotiable and moving forward.
The site was packed with dignitaries, including Mayor Karen Bass, City Council members, and state lawmakers.
As Mayor Bass put it, this project is "more than just a building, it is about revitalizing the heart of our city and bringing good-paying jobs and tourism straight to downtown." The entire event was framed as an investment in the city's future, one that will generate 15,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue.
Webcor Builders EVP Jit Pahilajani was one of the speakers at the event:
Webcor was well represented at the groundbreaking, as well. In addition to Jit, Webcorians in attendance were Project Planning Sr. VP Allison McCue, Matt Johnson, Taylor Manavian, Ryan Gerber, and Brooke Walbuck.
“It was incredibly meaningful to be there to witness the groundbreaking of this critically important project to our city,” Brooke says. “Hearing Jit speak alongside our civic leaders and stakeholders who have championed moving the project forward fueled excitement and optimism for the future of LA, and an investment that will serve as the catalyst for growth and recovery of our Downtown core. We can all be so proud to be a part of delivering this vision after such a long and difficult course!”
Many Webcorians have already been doing the heavy lifting to get us here, but now the tempo accelerates. We're on the clock.
The ultimate is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. The facility needs to be "Olympic ready" by Spring 2028 to host events like fencing and wrestling.
Our job, as the General Contractor Joint Venture (PCL Construction/Webcor Construction), is to deliver a new LACC that achieves three goals:
This is where Webcor’s experience building massive, complex structures pays off. We are tasked with delivering a generational opportunity for an iconic American city.
The Convention Center will remain open during construction, requiring intense coordination and focus from all teams. This is precisely the kind of complexity we thrive on.
We are already past the talking stage. We’re past the paperwork. Now, we move past preconstruction. We are officially in the execution phase. This is what we’re built for.
