LACMA’s Unframed blog recently profiled the work of contractor Clark Construction to build the concrete structure for the Peter Zumthor-designed $750 million new David Geffen Galleries extension. The concrete will be left untreated to match its architect’s long-established aesthetic and elevate the "hand of the craftsman."
Work will now commence on the installation of the 347,500-square-foot gallery’s interior walls, plus its exterior facade glazing, MEP systems, and roof-level horizontal decks.
"The building has no columns!," Chris Bell, the project executive for Clark Construction, shared with Unframed. "Instead, there are seven 30-foot-tall park-level pavilions that support the entire exhibition space. That's three football fields long with supporting cantilevers that hold people, glass, artwork — cantilevers that are 60 feet long. Being able to achieve and balance the structural and architectural requirements, it's a feat unto itself."
The update comes after LACMA celebrated the topping out of the structure earlier in the summer. SOM is serving as the project's structural engineer. Construction is expected to reach completion by the end of the year. A final opening date has not been revealed yet.
Editor's note, February 8, 2024: An earlier version of this article stated a 2026 opening date. LACMA has, however, informed us that a public opening date has not been announced. We have updated our text accordingly.
4 Comments
This project has a long way to go just in order to expectations and justify the amount of goodwill towards the institution that Govan burned up.
This "I remember a time when, reviewing our final mock-up, he was deciding between incorporating some type of black oxide color additive to this concrete mix or leaving it in its natural color. And Peter said he had originally added the colors because he was worried, but the team had proven that they were some of the best and most capable so he was no longer scared and we do not need the color. He removed the color and made it as natural and honest as it can be, seeing as much of the material as possible" is an interesting quote/insight.
Seems to be an (at least partial) explanation for why the project seems to have moved aware from the Ink/Oil/Tar Blot version that was being shopped around at one point?
@nam Henderson
It hasn't been that way for seven years.
I drive by it often and begrudgingly admit... it's looking pretty good. We shall see.
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