Designed as a memorial to World War I soldiers, the exterior features stylized Assyrian friezes, sculpted figures in military uniform, and massive cast stone warrior angels guarding the plinth and tower at every corner.

Of particular note is the restoration of the elaborate hand-painted ceilings that adorn the building's lobby and ballrooms, which had undergone substantial water damage, staining, and peeling under the Elks ownership.

Situated in one of the city's most troubled and impoverished districts, and equipped with mostly small, single-occupancy studio units (designed for Elks Lodge members travelling alone), the property was ill-equipped to succeed as the luxury hotel befitting its exterior, lobby, and grand ballrooms.

It is featured prominently in Wild at Heart, Less than Zero, The Bodyguard, Barton Fink, The Mask, The Naked Gun, Johns, and The Fisher King, among others.

[3] Baur also cultivated partnerships with club and concert promoters, and the Park Plaza gained a second lease on life as one of Los Angeles's hottest night spots, hosting a series of series of successful nightclubs, such as Power Tools, Club Soda, Scream, and Truth, and other high-profile events, including the record release part for Madonna's Like a Prayer album.

[4] Musical artists who have performed live or shot videos at the Park Plaza Hotel include Iggy Pop, Jane's Addiction, Guns N' Roses, Fishbone, Pearl Jam, Ministry, the Traveling Wilburys, Nick Cave, The Fuzztones, Maroon 5, Alice in Chains, and Steve Perry.

[7] Despite the surrounding neighborhood's period of urban decay and renewal, the building endured as a classic example of Beelman's architecture still standing in the modern world.

This is significant in that many other Wilshire Boulevard area landmarks fell prey to the wrecking ball during that time period, such as the notable Brown Derby.

The elaborate interior murals and decorative paintings were designed and executed by Anthony Heinsbergen and Co, noted painter of many Los Angeles cultural landmarks.