With two construction cranes now perched high above La Cienega Boulevard, the long-awaited makeover of the Beverly Center is officially underway. The $500-million renovation - announced earlier this year by owner Taubman Centers, Inc. - reenvisions the fortress-like shopping center with a more welcoming appearance and enhanced pedestrian access. Specific improvements, as designed by architecture firm Studio Fuksas, include the following: Construction is expected to be completed by late 2018.