Big Century City/Beverly Hills Developments Get Moving

Your eyes do not deceive you: construction cranes have returned to Century City.  10000 Santa Monica Boulevard, a $300 million residential tower by developer Crescent Heights, is about to begin the two-year climb to its eventual 40-story apex.

When completed in 2016, the project will offer 283 luxury apartments along the border between West Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.  Units will range in size from one-to-three-bedrooms, and are being built to condo specifications in the event of an uptick in the local for-sale market.

Designs from New York-based Handel Architects call for the building to have a shimmering glass exterior.  Jagged angles and a sloping roofline will give the tower a unique presence within Century City's otherwise staid, modernist skyline.  With a 483-foot height profile, 10000 Santa Monica is currently the second tallest building under construction in Los Angeles, following the monumental Wilshire Grand hotel and office development.

Westfield Century City

A few blocks west, protective barriers now encircle 1801 Avenue of the Stars, signaling that the end is nigh for Welton Becket's 1963 modernist landmark.  The 13-story edifice, alternatively known as Gateway West, is slated for demolition as part of the highly anticipated expansion of Westfield Century City.  The greatly augmented shopping mall will add over 400,000 square feet of floor area, to be filled by an impressive list of tenants which reportedly includes Nordstroms and Eataly.

An official website indicates that Westfield will also include 20 "upscale residences," in the project, to be located within a new 15-story building.  This plan is a significant reduction from the Australian developer's earlier vision for the site, which featured 262 condominiums within a controversial 39-story tower.  Curiously, an architectural rendering displayed on the project's website does not portray the proposed tower in either form.

9900 Wilshire Boulevard

On the opposite side of Santa Monica Boulevard, all remnants of the former Beverly Hills Robinsons-May have disappeared.  The once luxurious department store has long been slated to give way for a $1.2 billion condominium development, designed by Getty Center-architect Richard Meier.

Although the project has sputtered out multiple times due to lagging market conditions, previous failures have not deterred the Dalian Wanda Group.  Earlier this year, the Chinese conglomerate reportedly paid $420 million for the eight-acre property at 9900 Wilshire Boulevard, with the intention of completing the Meier-designed proposal.  If and when completed, the project will consist of two mid-rise towers, featuring 235 condominiums, 21,000 square feet of retail space and a 876-car parking garage.

Waldorf Astoria - Beverly Hills

At the high-profile intersection of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards, demolition is largely complete in preparation for the new Beverly Hills Waldorf Astoria.  The luxury hotel is being developed by a team of investors lead by Alagem Capital Group, and will contain 170 guest rooms above luxury retail and other ancillary space.

The 12-story structure, designed by Gensler and Pierre-Yves Rochon, is inspired by the Streamline Moderne style.  Exteriors materials will include curved white stone and bronze ornamentation, paying homage to the Golden Age of Los Angeles.

The $200 million project is the Waldorf Astoria brand's first new build on the West Coast.  Opening is scheduled for 2017.

• 10000 Santa Monica Blvd by Handel Architects (Building Los Angeles)
• Westfield's Century City Tower Gets a Big Haircut (Building Los Angeles)
• Beverly Hills' Vacant Robinsons-May Bites the Dust (Building Los Angeles)
• Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills (Official Website)