Closing in on eight years after starting the process, Sun Hill Properties has finally secured entitlements for a proposed expansion of the Hilton Universal City hotel.

The expansion, which would sit near the main entrance to Universal Studios Hollywood and adjacent to the hotel's existing 24-story hotel tower at 555 E. Universal Hollywood Drive, calls for the construction of an 18-story building featuring 395 guest rooms. Combined with the accommodations of the existing tower, the Hilton would have 890 guest rooms when construction is completed.

Aerial view looking eastAnkrom Moisan

Ankrom Moisan is designing the expansion, which calls for a new tower with a a diamond-shaped footprint capped by a rooftop pool deck. The expansion would also include new parking for 460 vehicles, expanding upon the hotel's 652 existing spaces.

After breaking ground, the construction process is expected to take approximately 30 months.

Ground-level view of the hotel expansionAnkrom Moisan

Originally slated to begin construction in 2023, and later 2024, Sun Hill went to the City of Los Angeles last year seeking to build the expansion, citing a financing gap. Such incentive packages have previously involved a partial rebate of transient occupancy tax revenue which would normally be paid to the city. However, the developer has also stated in a letter sent last year to city officials that the expansion could ultimately be nixed following a vote to hike the wages of employees of large hotels in Los Angeles.

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