The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, designed by Welton Becket and associates was a cultural center for the city of Santa Monica, for several years. In the recent times, the building has lost its former appeal and requires a transformation to regain its former glory.

The new 25,000 SF addition consisting of an exhibition hall and a theatre is designed to complement and support the civic auditorium. As a tribute to its predecessor, the new design also follows the lines of Total Design, the motto of Welton Becket. The architect is responsible for all fields of the design. Structure, skin, HVAC Systems, electrical, and plumbing systems are all part of the architect’s mission.

Santa Monica receives more than 350 days of sunlight and strong winds, from the west and southwest for most of the year. The new addition to utilizes these natural tendencies to its advan- tage, reducing the amount of electrical intake for the building. The overall massing is inspired from tectonic unit derived from the study of the Civic auditorium’s façade.