Opened in 1975, the furniture maker exhibition space was housed in the same building, designed by Pelly and nicknamed the "blue whale" because of its original shape and position in the wilderness: it reminded the people of Los Angeles of a stranded marine mammal.
Ten years later, in 1988, Pelly commissioned designs for two more buildings for the center, but then only the Green Building was built. It took a long time to find tenants, and its exhibition spaces were converted into offices - under the guidance of the author.
In the late 1990s, the Center changed owners, and its focus also changed: from focusing on wealthy private buyers and small furniture dealers who visited its showrooms, it came to the function of a large public complex, with a branch of the City Museum of Contemporary Art, with restaurants and shops. In parallel, the entire West Hollywood area, which was still practically non-existent in 1975, developed. In 2004, the "Green Building" was completely handed over to various companies, and the opportunity arose to complete the creation of the ensemble.
Only now, Pelly faced a more difficult task: in the case of the first two buildings, he could turn his main attention to shaping, placing buildings on a free site. Now he had to inscribe the future "Red Building" in a small wedge-shaped piece of land between his own and others' buildings on the territory of the Center.
The new building of glass, dynamic outlines will be completely occupied by offices. Its height is eight on one side and six floors on the other (seven more levels of garages underground). It resembles a sailing ship in shape, which will attract the attention of the townspeople, but in essence the "Red Building" is less interesting in our time than its blue and green predecessors were for their period. In addition, a small palm-lined courtyard is planned, which will form a single ensemble with the area surrounding the Center with innovative landscape design.
