A short few months after our last update, construction continues to ramp up for Century City Center, JMB Realty's new office tower now taking shape at 1950 S. Avenue of the Stars.

The project, which will abut the entrance to the under-construction Century City Metro station at Avenue of the Stars and Constellation Boulevard, will eventually consist of a 37-story building featuring approximately 730,000 square feet of offices above parking. Plans also call for retail space and two acres of gardens and courtyards, which will cap a subterranean parking garage.

View looking southwestHunter Kerhart Architectural Photography

Johnson Fain is designing the roughly 564-foot-tall building, which will have a glass exterior.

"Form, function, sustainability and connectivity will be merged in this high-rise office building. Distinguishable on the skyline by its tapered and highly sculptured profile, the varying patterns of its glass skins will provide high identity to each floor," reads a Johnson Fain design narrative. "Every orientation of the building is designed to maximize office views, increase both natural light and comfort and minimize heat and energy consumption. Embracing the virtues of our Southern Californian climate and landscape, the dramatic two-story lobby will be wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass and outdoor paving materials while plantings will bring the plaza gardens directly into the building. The outdoor transit plaza will be a contemporary garden environment ringed with retail amenities and low-rise creative office space."

The project, which has been in the works for nearly two decades, is not having trouble locking in tenants - despite overall headwinds facing the office sector. In 2022, it was announced that talent agent CAA would anchor the new complex, leasing approximately 400,000 square feet of the building after it relocates from a neighboring building at 2000 Avenue of the Stars. More recently, it was reported that Clearlake Capital has agreed to pre-lease 150,000 square feet of space within the building, accounting for its top eight floors. Together, they will account for roughly 75 percent of the available floor area.

As of last year, JMB had projected that Century City Center would be completed in 2026.

Aerial rendering of Century City Center, looking northeastKilograph

JMB Realty has sought to build on the site at 1950 Avenue of the Stars since 2005, when the Chicago-based firm first initiated plans for high-rise condominium complex. After securing approvals, the company pivoted toward the now under-construction plan for an office tower in 2011, only to later revert to its original residential plan in 2018. Then, after starting foundation work on the property in 2019, JMB once again reversed course, settling on the office tower.

The resilience of the Century City office market may bode well for another project now making its way through entitlements. As part of an overhaul of its historic studio lot, Fox Corp. recently announced plans for a speculative 35-story office tower a short walk to the south along Avenue of the Stars.

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