Pankow Builders provided Design-Build and Design-Assist construction services for the renovation of City National Plaza’s lobbies and the creation of a new indoor/outdoor Event Center. The upgrades included new marble finishes, brass reception desks, feature lighting, and glass bi-fold partitions, as well as audio-visual systems, fire and water features, and multi-level terraces.

Working in an active, fully occupied high-rise, Pankow Builders maintained tenant comfort and safety while executing the high-detail design envisioned by Gensler. The result is a redefined urban lobby experience—warm, functional, and timeless.

Designing for Light, Life, and Luxury

City National Plaza’s lobby renovation revitalized a downtown Los Angeles landmark through light, texture, and connection. The project transformed the twin 52-story towers’ lobbies and created a new Event Center in the North Tower, all while the buildings remained fully occupied. The reimagined interiors balance the strength of the original granite architecture with refined, modern details.

At the heart of the project is a breathtaking suspended lighting sculpture: over 100 delicate glass globes designed and fabricated by Yellow Goat, each with its own driver, carefully installed over escalators spanning three elevator bays. Surrounding this focal piece, new marble finishes, brass reception desks, and sculpted ceilings bring warmth and elegance to the space.

The Event Center introduces a flexible venue for tenant gatherings, with bar and kitchen amenities, advanced audio-visual integration, and a multi-level terrace framed by custom trellises and planter areas. Through meticulous phasing and design-assist delivery, Pankow completed the renovation without interrupting operations, reestablishing City National Plaza as one of Los Angeles’s premier Class A destinations.