The Phoenix Rises Again! Fairmount Century Plaza Reimagined
The Fairmount Century Plaza is an iconic, old Los Angeles landmark. It harkens back to the profundity of times like the roaring twenties, the glamor of the forties, and the cutting-edge, Hollywood new wave of the sixties. In many ways, there’s almost sense of wistfulness to its presence in the city of angels, a sense of both timelessness and time lost. Such nostalgia is expertly juxtaposed by necessary, fine-tuned post-modernist design that is something of a salutation to the property once deemed the ‘Hotel of the Future’.
The formerly christened ‘Western White House’ (President Reagan graced the property numerous times as his preferred stay) now boasts some of the highest end, state-of-the-art facilities and features upscale LA quarters. This includes 400 rooms and luxury suites complete with private balcony installations, including 301 King Rooms, 63 luxury suites, 50 double rooms, and 49 suites. The King Rooms boast fifty-four, specifically tailored gold floor rooms, while ten of the suites themselves are also specifically tailored gold floor rooms, such a feature also available for some of the double room and luxury suite options as well.
The post-modernism gracing the property’s halls is thanks to Japanese-American architect Minoru Yamasaki, applying an almost cauterized, surgically precise simplicity that at the same time never lacks in profundity of scope. Revision and rectifications applied to the property stay true to Yamasaki’s design plans, courtesy of firms Gensler and Yabu Pushelberg respectively. Stepping outside Fairmount’s halls reveals not only the shrewd business decisions in the hotel’s construction but also with respect to the specificity of its location.
The property is close to some of the city’s hottest landmarks and destinations, such as the Getty Center, The Grove, the Fox Studio lot, the Santa Monica pier, and LAX. Naturally some of the establishment’s clientele reflect its prestige, the property having hosted the likes of David Ben-Gurion and Prince Philip, as well as being the host for the Emmys in 1967 and the Grammys in 1970 and 1971. What was once on 2009’s list for The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 11 most endangered historic places has now been restored to its former glory.
Currently in its twenty first century formation, the Fairmount Century Plaza hasn’t just given its lodging a major upgrade, but also the entirety of the surrounding facilities. This includes the gorgeous, rooftop pool complete with exclusive, VIP cabanas and a fully stocked outdoor bar, valet parking situated directly across the famed Avenue of the Stars, as well as said luxuries situated directly across from Constellation Boulevard, a twenty-four hour fitness center, and a 14,000 square foot spa. Then there’s the installation of the premier hotel brasserie Lumiére, overseen by Fairmount’s general manager Paul Quinn who experientially boasts multiple Michelin stars and previously oversaw fine dining establishment Eleven Madison Park. To say the facility continues to live up to its title of going up and beyond highest clientele expectation would be an understatement. It also would be something of a vague insult. Fairmount is a named steeped in genuine grandeur, the kind that is as much a relic of a time as it is sanctity we all are hungry for today…