New eye-catching hotel to replace Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard
Developers have announced plans to build a 15-story hotel and condo complex at 8850-8878 Sunset Blvd., which includes the lot where the infamous Viper Room nightclub currently stands. The property was purchased last summer for $80 million by Silver Creek Development Co., who has contracted with the Morphosis architecture firm for the project’s design, through a competition that drew 12 submissions. Morphosis’ entry calls for a highly modern design with two tower components, which creates an empty space in the structure when viewed in a north-south direction. The project will include 115 hotel rooms, 31 condominium units, and 10 affordable housing units, and parking for 300 vehicles. Morphosis, which is based in Culver City, is also responsible for Emerson College campus in Hollywood and the Caltrans building in downtown Los Angeles. The Viper Room opened in 1993 by then co-owner Johnny Depp and became a popular hangout for young celebrities at the time, despite, or perhaps because of it being the location of actor River Phoenix’s death. No timeline has been announced for construction of the hotel or the closure of the nightclub