The Pacific Design Center is a singular landmark that galvanized the design industry

An instant cultural icon when it opened in 1975, the Pacific Design Center's Blue Building established West Hollywood as an internationally renowned design district. This audacious building (widely known as the “Blue Whale”) marked a watershed for Los Angeles architecture, boldly taking center stage in a city known for the spotlight. The development of the Pacific Design Center spans four decades, with the addition of the Green Building in 1988, followed by the Red Building in 2012 — both continuing the architecture’s daring exuberance and whimsy. The Center unites the neighboring hills and flat Mid-City area, forming a lynchpin for what we now know as West Hollywood.

An architectural story four decades in the making

In a city where many ambitious projects were never built, the Red Building is a celebratory culmination of the Pacific Design Center’s trilogy. The building’s two towers join at the center on a raised plinth with a sky garden that offers sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills and downtown Los Angeles, while concealing parking underneath. The Red Building anchors the north side of the campus, creating an inviting public plaza with fountains, palm trees, and lush green space. Visitors from all over the world come to the Pacific Design Center for screenings, exhibitions, and industry events.

“As a gathering place, the Pacific Design Center created the environment for West Hollywood to happen.” — Cesar Pelli, FAIA, RIBA, JIA