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11 Most Endangered
Century Plaza Hotel
Year Listed: 2009
Location: Los Angeles , California
Current Status: Endangered
Threat: Development
Century Plaza Hotel
The curved façade of the Century Plaza Hotel, looking west from Avenue of the Stars.
Century Plaza Hotel
The Century Plaza Hotel soon after completion in 1966.
Century Plaza Hotel
Century Plaza Hotel
Significance
Opened in 1966 as the centerpiece of Century City, the 19-story curved hotel has been a prominent Los Angeles landmark for more than four decades. From its prime perch fronting the spectacular fountains on the Avenue of the Stars, the Century Plaza’s sweeping modern design strongly evokes the exuberant optimism of the 1960s. Designed by renowned architect Minoru Yamasaki, who would later design New York’s World Trade Center twin towers, the hotel incorporates Yamasaki’s ornamental, textural and sculptural trademarks. Yamasaki also designed the 1975 twin Century Plaza towers, the striking triangular buildings east of the hotel.
According to the National Trust, the energy embodied in the 800,000-square-foot Century Plaza Hotel is the equivalent of 167,000 barrels of oil, a statistic that takes into account the amount of energy used in the construction of the building. If the structure were to be demolished and landfilled, the energy locked up in it would be totally wasted. What's more, the process of demolition would use more energy, and the construction of a new building on the Century Plaza site would require even more.
The Los Angeles Conservancy, founded in 1978 to preserve architectural resources, is leading the charge to save the hotel. Academy Award-winning actress Diane Keaton, a former board member of the Conservancy and a current trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, participated in the news conference in Los Angeles to announce the 11 Most Endangered listing.
The hotel, which fueled the development of Century City and forged its reputation as a world-class destination, has been a gathering place for celebrities, politicians and world dignitaries since its opening day. Once nicknamed the "West Coast White House," the Century Plaza was a favorite of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Nixon hosted a celebration for the Apollo 11 astronauts here, while Reagan presided over two presidential victory celebrations in the hotel's vast ballroom and conducted much of his business in the hotel's Presidential Suite while in California.
Updates
April 2009: Currently operating as a Hyatt Regency, the hotel was purchased by Next Century Associates in May of 2008. The new owner promptly called the hotel "a jewel in my hometown" – but less than six months later, the same owner announced plans to raze the building and replace it with two 600-foot towers, which would house a boutique hotel, luxury condominiums and mixed-use space.
The handsome, elegant hotel is in excellent condition and was the beneficiary of a $36 million facelift just over a year ago. The meeting and conference areas have also been renovated and remain among the largest and most desirable convention spaces in the city. The hotel's owners claim their development plan is "part of the greening of Century City," touting the fact that the new construction will be designed with green roofs and environmentally sensitive building materials.
The demolition of a 40-year-old, fully functioning building is not environmentally responsible. The developer propses tearing down a newly renovated, thriving hotel – a landmark of modern architecture – and replacing it with new construction. Because historic preservation inherently involves the conservation of energy and natural resources, it has always been the greenest form of development. Learn more about our Sustainability Initiative.
Site videos produced by Polivision Productions.
Share your memories of this endangered place
Submitted by MCM at: January 12, 2010
I stayed in this hotel a couple of years ago-- it's beautiful! I can't stand the destruction of such wonderful examples of architecture from mid century. To those who say that mid-century modern architecture isn't worth saving...(yes, folks like you, hotelguy), I say go buy some empty land and build your ugly stucco monstrocity somewhere else.... True, it's not been 100 years, but had we the forthought to save prominant turn-of-the-Century architecture before most of it was lost to the ages and greedy developers, we'd have more examples of their beauty. The same holds true for MidCentury design-- why wait until there's none left to save? SO much has already been lost!
Submitted by Jonathan (my reak name) at: November 17, 2009
Living in North Caroilina and having recently visited Calfornia, I can really understand everyones blogs regarding the hotel. I however feel if CA is going to be the leader in substaniable design then you'all need to do a really close look at the demolishon vs the new construction proposed. Personally i think you could retrofit solutions to all of the energy consumption issues for less tahn building a new eocfreindly mixed uses property there. BEWARE OF THE DEVELOPER THEY ARE AFTER ONLY ONE THING AND THAT IS GOOD PROFIT MARINS AT THE END OF THE YEAR REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT TAKES! tHE ARE VERY FEW THAT ARE ACTUALLY CONCERNED WITH THE GOOD OF THE ENVIROMENT.
Submitted by Mr. Lee at: November 9, 2009
When I was younger and working for the major networks, I used to do major press conferences at the Century Plaza. Now as a media CEO, I always stay at the Century Plaza, simply because of the great historical significance of this hotel to Los Angeles and the roots of American broadcasting. Additionally, as a serious lay student of modern American architecture, I understand the deep significance of Minoru Yamasaki and the Gropius era architects. Now that the World Trade Center in New York has been destroyed by terrorism, the Century Plaza stands as one final monument to Yamasaki's brilliance. Anyone who doubts this should read MIT press' "Divided Responsibilities: Minoru Yamasaki, Architectural Authorship, and the World Trade Center, by David L. Salomon in the Spring 2002 issue of 'Grey Room' an MIT architecture publication. To lose the Century Plaza will be to permanently damage the 1960's ambiance of Century City, especially now that the hotel has been restored, correctly, to it's original elegance. Some things should be preserved for posterity, and just as the Roman edifices and even minor bath houses now tell us about the history of Rome, so will structure like the Century Plaza tell future generations about American culture and engineering in the post-modern American era.
Submitted by Rudy at: October 1, 2009
Starwood extensively remodeled the south tower as the St. Regis Los Angeles which had the largest standard rooms for any 5 star hotel in LA. After less than 5 years, the entire building and hotel was razed for a residential condo tower. It's insane that Century City keeps razing its hotels for resdidences. Aren't there enough? We lost the Ambassador, now the Century Plaza? No wonder LA is considered a city with NO history!
Submitted by Philly at: September 25, 2009
philp prestage I also was one of the first apprentice to graduate at this magnificent Hotel. It is the only hotel of its time that served banquets up to 2600 French Style served, employed 100s of waiters full time for years on end.For years it catered to ABC NBC CBS for elaborate menus for 2000 or more there is no banquet kitchen of its kind there were no budget cuts for kitchen design. long live this most unique Hotel in side and out. The CP! was the Mayflower of Western International Hotels 5 star rated.
Submitted by Eric Rose at: September 12, 2009
I was an apprentice chef back in the 60s'-70s' at The Century Plaza Hotel under Executive Chef Walter Roth. This hotel holds many memories for me as well as the other apprentices that graduated with me. This aside, I agree with many of the other posters in that to tear down a perfectly functioning, recently renovated, gorgeous hotel to build over priced condos would be a travesty!! SAVE THE CP!!!!
Submitted by hotelguy at: August 18, 2009
I'm in the hotel business. Older hotels built in this are difficult to operate, use a ton of energy and have high maintenance costs. Hyatt is the operator, not the owner. Respect private property rights and focus on saving buildings for history, it's only 40 some years old, for crying out loud. This is crazy.
Submitted by Jimbo at: August 2, 2009
I can't believe this! I just stayed at the hotel last week and it's incredible! I didn't even know the history until I got there, and after the renovation it's really beautiful. Very classy. If this gets torn down, it's a sin. Doesn't Hyatt have a say in it?
Submitted by Mr Bill at: June 1, 2009
The Guy is a complete idiot.
Submitted by Deb at: May 31, 2009
In 1982 I was a receptionist at an entertainment law firm in Century City, and took a call from Mick Jagger, who was in town for the Rolling Stones' *first* world tour concert to be performed at the Coliseum. He left word for his attorney that he could return the call to the Penthouse at the Century Plaza and gave me the direct number. "Tell him Mr. Jagger called" in that rockstar Brittish accent was just magic to hear. I hung up the phone all starstruck. Later that day a motorcycle messenger delivered to reception a thick envelope. I knew it contained 100 prime seat tickets to next day's concert, compliments of the Stones. As I held the delivery under my desk, I asked the young man "Do you know what you just delivered?" and told him. His dance of frustration with "Oh My God - you mean I was holding those!?!" *exlpetive deleted* [several times]. He begged me to say they never came and he'd split the scalper proceeds with me, but knowing at least two tickets were for me, I quickly nixed his suggestion. It was a cruel thing to do to the delivery guy but the visual still makes me laugh. It was an awesome concert next day, and I always recall that youthful memory every time I drive past the Century Plaza Hotel, which is still every morning on my way to work. Now I'm no longer a receptionst - I'm Executive Coordinator of Legal Affairs in the corporate legal department of a real estate equity investment firm. But I'll always consider the Century Plaza as a place where the stars have always gathered on the Avenue of the Stars. No replacement building could change that history, or those memories. New is not always better. As Jagger sang: "Time is on out side" so please consider strongly heritage over politics. I vote to save the Century Plaza.