Luxurious Lifestyle

The Century project aims for the lavish

By Greg Aragon

Century City will add a 42-story oval-shaped jewel to its crown of high-priced luxury condominium towers later this year when Related Cos. of New York will debut The Century, a lavish 1-million-sq-ft high rise.

“The Century is well above anything else on the Westside of LA,” says Jeff Lucas, vice president of construction for Related. “You’ve got lots of very high-end, high-rise condominiums, but we are bringing the idea of luxury estate living, which doesn’t already exist.”

He says The Century, which should be completed in December, is being built for people such as bicoastal professionals and those who have lived in large estates and are now ready to downsize on property management, but keep the same “luxurious lifestyle they are used to.”

The project was designed by New York-based Robert A.M. Stern Architects, with HKS Architects Inc. of Beverly Hills serving as architect of record. The Los Angeles office of Webcor Builders is serving as general contractor. 

advertisement

The 497-ft-tall project broke ground in April. It will feature 147 condos with a 368-car, subterranean parking garage. The units will range in size from 3,000 sq ft to 14,000 sq ft in two- and four-bedroom configurations. This will include four full-floor penthouses.

Related has not released a cost on the project or individual unit prices, but estimates on the residences are said to be in the $2.5 million to $25 million range, or about $2,000-per-sq-ft.

Amenities include a restaurant, a fitness center with a pool and spa, a conference room, catering kitchen, library, screening room, children’s playroom, business center and valet parking.

Residences will boast floor-to-ceiling windows, fireplaces, private elevators, wine storage and generous balconies.

The tower is supported by 65,000 cu yds of high-strength, 10,000-psi concrete with an interior moment frame system.

By going with concrete instead of steel, crews were able to save time, says Andrea Anderson, Webcor project manager.

“With a concrete structure you can continue building as you design and you can stay ahead,” she says. “So basically we were able to start [construction] before design was completely finished.”

The first three-floors of the building’s exterior will include 30,000 sq ft of Italian travertine stone, hand set, scalloped and carved by the architect. Above the third floor, the skin will transition into pre-cast panels, which will match the travertine.

When visitors enter the completed project they will wind past a grassy lawn ringed with palm trees to a motor court centered on three fountains. This will end at a glass canopy extending from a double-height vestibule to form a porte-cochere that leads to a grand lobby overlooking terraced gardens to the south.

The four acres of gardens, designed by landscape architect Pamela Burton, will boast expansive lawns, mature trees saved from the existing site, and drought-tolerant plantings organized around a reflecting pool.

Located on Avenue of the Stars in Century City, The Century takes the place of the St. Regis Hotel and Spa, which was razed last year. When complete, it will stand beside the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.

The Project Team

Owner:
Related Avenue of the Stars Associates, LLC, New York

Contractor:
Webcor Builders, Los Angeles

Design Architect:
Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP, New York

Architect of Record:
HKS Architects, Inc., Beverly Hills

Landscape Architect:
Pamela Burton & Co., Santa Monica

Engineer:
Magnusson Klemencic Associates, Seattle

Electrical Sub:
Sasco, Santa Ana

Mechanical Sub:
Critchfield Mechanical, Inc., Costa Mesa

Click here for next Feature Story >>