All systems are go for the 9900 Wilshire development, an upper-scale condominium project slated to be erect on the former site of a Robinson’s May. Rudolph and Sletten, Inc. were awarded a preconstruction services contract today, and are expected to begin construction upon the site shortly.

The site is property of Project Lotus, L.L.C., a joint venture between CPC Group (development company owned by the Candy brothers) and Kaupthing HF (a bank based in Reykjavik, Iceland).

The development, which drew heavy criticism from the Jewish community in Beverly Hills, will transform the currently empty 8 acre lot into a 235-unit eco-friendly condominium community. The condominiums will be contained in two towers and designed in accordance with the Gold LEED standard (a standard set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council to denote the degree of eco-friendliness of a particular structure). Jewish residents were initially reluctant to back the project for fear that it would be funded by Middle-eastern entities. Residents as a whole were also concerned that the development would spur traffic congestion and put a strain on city resources.

The project will require a good deal of preplanning to ensure minimal impact on the surrounding area. Before construction can officially begin, Rudolph and Sletten will have to extract and replace an underground water pipe serving the city of Santa Monica. The pipe, expected to be en-route to the site shortly, will allow the construction phase of the development to begin.

Ready to tackle portions of the project are some big names, including Richard Meier and Candy & Candy, Inc. Richard Meier and Partners’ work on the structure has already received some distinction, the most recent being in 2007. Candy & Candy Inc., a renowned interior design company will be handling the interior design aspect of the development. Landscaping will be conducted by the Olin Partnership, an internationally acclaimed, Philadelphia-based landscaping company.

John McRitchie, Project Executive for Rudolph and Sletten, hopes the preplanning phase of the development will allow for 9900 Wilshire to seamlessly integrate into the “vibrant and historical area.”

The condominiums will offer many of the same amenities as comparable residences in the area – with many additional perks, including specialized material selection inside and out. However, the development will do this while using less resources and releasing less emissions than similarly-sized structures.