After years of delays, a controversial expansion of the Westfield Century City shopping complex is finally forging ahead.

Demoltion is now visibly underway on Gateway West, a vacant 12-story office building located at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars.  The landmark structure, designed by prominent Los Angeles architect Welton Becket, became Century City's first office tower when it opened in 1963.

The mid-rise edifice is being torn down to make way for a 1.2 million-square-foot expansion of the adjacent shopping mall, the Westfield Group's Los Angeles flagship.  The $800 million project will include 422,000 square feet of premium retail space, 4,700 parking spaces, and 20 residences.  Future retail tenants will include a three-level Nordstroms flagship store, a remodeled Bloomingdale's, a new two-story Macy's.  Eataly, the popular Italian food market, will also open its first West Coast location within the mall.

The expanded shopping center is expected to open in 2017.