University of California Approves UCLA Conference Center

The University of California’s Board of Regents approved a plan on Wednesday to build a $162 million conference center and hotel on the school system’s Los Angeles campus. The project features plans for a seven-story building with 250 hotel rooms and 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space on a site currently occupied by a garage. The Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference and Guest Center will be financed by $112 million in bond financing and a $50 million gift from its namesakes, a UCLA alumnus and his wife. Private hotels have voiced objections to the project because the hotel would be exempt from certain taxes and tourism assessments, which they say would give it an advantage over other local lodging. Construction is expected to begin next summer and should take about three years. latimes.com