Despite many construction projects being put on hold across the U.S., some regions, including Los Angeles, have continued on with business as usual. Word of the LACMA demolition came to light during the second week of April, while a neighboring project is also making progress. In the weeks since Archinect's last coverage of Renzo Piano's Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, new photos and exhibition renders have been released.

With the museum set to open in December 2020, museum director Bill Kramer shares in a press statement that the programs and exhibitions featured will "illuminate the complex and fascinating world of cinema—its art, technology, artists, history, and social impact—through a variety of diverse and engaging voices."

Kramer also addresses the museum's construction progress during a global pandemic. "We are keenly aware that we’re working towards the opening of the Academy Museum during a time of great challenge. Over the past century, motion pictures have reflected and impacted major historical issues and events. The stories we tell in the Academy Museum are part of those bigger stories, and we are committed to highlighting the social impact of motion pictures."

The museum's gallery design, which will cover three floors within the site's Saban Building, is spearheaded by the Los Angeles-based architecture studio wHY Architecture. Their multidisciplinary approach has given the firm much experience in museum gallery, as can be attested by the firm’s recent work on renovations and expansions for the Art Institute of Chicago, Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, and their latest project at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

 wHY's Creative Director, Kulapat Yantrasast, shares with the press: "It’s important to us to design exhibition spaces which engage people at all levels – you can come in, enjoy a quick montage of scenes from iconic movies, or spend hours exploring the craft of costume design or the history of animation. Humans are deeply curious, and we wanted to give people the chance to gravitate towards their personal interests, creating connections with others in the process."