CENTURY PLAZA HOTEL & TOWER
"ROOMS AT THE TOP"
Palm Springs Life
April 1985
SCOPE:
Art Program Forensics, Collaborations & Guest Art Walk
During my tenure at Intradesign, Inc., I stepped in mid-stream to lead the fine art program, procurement and coordination involved tracing and finalizing high-value acquisitions across Los Angeles—including works by David Hockney, Sam Francis, Sam Tchakalian, and Eric Orr. Responsible for selecting the program's final artwork pieces, the role extended to collaborating directly with hotel leadership to curate an official guest "Art Walk," developing acrylic signage plaques and a comprehensive fine art guide.
Coordinated specialized installations and custom artist commissions, including:
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Miley Busiek: Worked directly with renowned sculptor Miley Busiek on the custom bronze griffins guarding the Tower entry. Oversaw site hoisting onto their pedestals alongside the artist—who whimsically provided a care manual titled "The Care and Feeding of Griffins" and gave each bronze a final polish and goodbye pat before handover.
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Pamela Silin-Palmer (Faunus Studio): Coordinated directly with artist Pamela Silin-Palmer on the custom private elevator mural serving La Chaumiere fine dining. Had the artist subtly disguise key hotel leadership as Renaissance figures alongside her signature whimsical animals.
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Steve Stockwell: Collaborated with Steve Stockwell on major custom wall commissions, including the massive murals framing the grand Century Room ballroom and the extensive multi-panel monkey mural lining the back wall of The Terrace restaurant.
Construction Administration & Quality Control
Served as the primary design liaison in contractor negotiation meetings, catching critical field deviations from construction drawings. Identified non-bookmatched architectural wood paneling in executive meeting rooms and caught major structural layout errors on the sunken lounge's curved marble parapet walls, ensuring field corrections preserved the original design integrity.
High-Stakes FF&E Procurement, Installation & Presidential Opening
Managed comprehensive FF&E procurement and ongoing site installation across primary public areas through the grand opening phase. Navigated tight holiday delivery schedules, complex multi-vendor logistics, and white-glove placement—including Secret Service and K-9 security truck sweeps for high-value artwork. Active installation continued alongside high-security protocols for President Reagan’s December 27th arrival, culminating in watching the presidential motorcade procession from an upper-floor tower suite.
"The Tower’s interiors were designed by Los Angeles-based Intradesign, whose standards reflect the public’s increasing awareness of quality and detail. For example, The Tower art collection is one of the finest hotel collections in the country. It includes important works by such major contemporary artists as David Hockney, Sam Francis, Ed Moses and Eric Orr."
As the Tower is approached, the slender structure can be seen rising above a glass-covered porte cochere. Guests arrive at an entrance flanked by a pair of four-foot-tall bronze griffins created by noted sculptor Miley Busiek."
"The lobby itself is reminiscent of a large European residence. Arriving guests are ushered through glass doors into an art-filled space that invites exploration. A large 14-panel Chinoiserie screen, dating from the early 19th century, is the first thing to be seen. The screen depicts a Shangri-la of colorfully clad figures amidst lakes and pavilions. Nearby, a Greek torso of the god Pan from the first century A.D. is displayed. In another area is a three-foot-high, ninth-century earthen figure of a horse."
"A great floral screen by Robert Linden emphasizes the entrance to the meeting and concourse level that joins both hotel buildings. A wide gallery, hung with large works of 'solar burn' art by Jay McCafferty leads from the lobby of the main building to the Tower... as do large ceramic platters by Roy Hamilton."
"La Chaumiere is reached by a private one-story elevator, itself a conversation piece—rich with colorful murals depicting Renaissance characters, boasting a trompe l’oeil ceiling from which a whimsical damsel looks down upon the rider."
Above excerpts from Palm Springs Life Magazine (April 1985 issue)
