The Wilshire Boulevard Temple's high-profile expansion will break ground next month, according to Urbanize.LA. Designed by OMA New York, the new Audrey Irmas Pavilion will include a main event space, a smaller multi-purpose room, and a sunken garden designed by LA-based Mia Lehrer, with whom OMA is also collaborating on a park design in downtown LA.  

Renderings for the landmark's expansion were released earlier this year, showing a contemporary design that leans away from the historic building, in terms of both aesthetics and positioning. "The pavilion is an active gesture, shaped by respectful moves away from the surrounding historic buildings, reaching out onto Wilshire Boulevard to create a new presence," said OMA Partner Shohei Shigematsu back when details of the project were released. 

The $75 million expansion is expected to complete in 2020. Most of the funding has come from the project's lead donor for whom the pavilion will be named after. Back in 2015, Audrey Irmas, a longtime congregant of the Temple, auctioned off a Cy Twombly painting to help cover the price tag.