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California Science Center's Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center expansion tops out in Los Angeles

2024-10-15T18:16:00-04:00

Construction has topped out on the ZGF Architects-led design for the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the California Science Center in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park.

The 200,000-square-foot project expands the museum’s programmable exhibition space by 110,00 square feet and shelters the decommissioned Space Shuttle Endeavor in a 200-foot-tall central space that organizes all three levels. Completion of the $425 million project is scheduled for mid-2025. Construction at the site began in June of 2022. Arup is the engineering partner.

Image courtesy California Science Center

Rendering courtesy California Science Center

It's a 'Go' for ZGF's Space Shuttle Endeavour installation at the California Science Center

2024-01-31T12:12:00-05:00

ZGF Architects has completed the installation of the decommissioned Space Shuttle Endeavour and orbiter system as a part of their Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center expansion at the California Science Center museum in Los Angeles.

The unique project will culminate in a three-level level scheme that includes 150 different exhibitions, the largest of which, a 200-foot-tall central gallery space, is set to be used as a new permanent display for the 122-foot-long retired NASA orbiter.

Video courtesy California Science Center

Since July, the construction team at Exposition Park has been busy at work on the “Soft mate” phase of the “Go for Stack” installation process for the space shuttle apparatus. The same painstaking process that decades ago prepared the shuttle for its 25 launches into outer space was once again enacted at the site for the record first time in civilian history. Work to install the solid rocket boosters and external tank preceded the shuttle’s move into place before ...

California Science Center begins construction on Space Shuttle Endeavour exhibition facility, designed by ZGF

2023-07-10T12:23:00-04:00

The California Science Center has offered an update on the construction of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. When completed, the center will be home to the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which will be configured in a ‘ready-to-launch’ system complete with the orbiter Endeavour, solid rocket boosters, and external tank.

Image credit: California Science Center

As we reported in June 2022, the ZGF Architects-designed scheme will house 150 exhibits across three multi-level galleries, and will more than double the California Science Center’s educational exhibit area. The central gallery containing the Space Shuttle Endeavour will rise 20 stories to a maximum height of 200 feet.

Image credit: California Science Center

On July 20th, 2023, the center will commence ‘Go for Stack,’ a complex process of moving and lifting each of the space shuttle components into place. The six-month process will begin with the installation of the aft skirts, on top of which the solid rocket motors will be stack...

ZGF designs new home for Space Shuttle Endeavour in Los Angeles

2022-06-03T12:04:00-04:00

ZGF Architects has unveiled details of its Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which has just broken ground in Los Angeles. The 200,000-square-foot facility will house 150 exhibits across three multi-level galleries and will serve as the permanent home of Space Shuttle Endeavour, one of three remaining flown space shuttle orbiters.

Image by ZGF Architects LLP

The scheme, designed by ZGF with engineering by ARUP, is arranged around three thematic galleries, named Air, Space, and Shuttle. The Air Gallery will explore the four physical forces behind flight: lift, thrust, drag, and weight. Approximately 20 aircraft will be on display in the gallery, including a segment of a real Boeing 747. The Air Gallery will also feature a wind tunnel exhibit to allow visitors to better understand the forces under which planes fly.

Image by ZGF Architects LLP

The Space Gallery centers on the various machines and inventions created to understand and explore space, including telescopes, robots, and spac...