New renderings of glitzy Century Plaza hotel and residences

The $2.5-billion Century Plaza is a highly anticipated project that some are hoping will boost the walkability of Century City, which is, right now, fairly pedestrian unfriendly) with the addition of a public plaza that will extend to Avenue of the Stars. The project is planned near a future stop along the Purple Line subway, so making the area appealing to people on foot is important.

The redevelopment of the 1966 Century Plaza Hotel got underway in the summer and will include refurbishing the hotel, getting rid of about half of the hotel’s 726 rooms, and adding 63 residences. The older hotel’s interior renovation will be handled by Gensler.

The future five-star hotel will be operated by Fairmont Hotels, which operates fancy and often historic hotels nationally and internationally. (Their Fairmont Santa Monica is planning a Cesar Pelli redesign, though it’s been beset by delays.)

The existing hotel building will be flanked by two new 46-story residential towers, designed by Pei Cobb Freed. The condos in the residential towers will be “the most elegant condominium homes ever built in Los Angeles,” according to the release.

And the redevelopment will also include the addition of a public, outdoor garden space designed by Rios Clementi Hale Studios, as well as shops, and eateries.

Century Plaza is expected to be complete in 2018.

Courtesy of DBOX for Next Century Partners