LACMA NOT LACKMA

The LACMA not LackMA Ideas Competition invited alternative concepts that correct major shortcomings of the museum’s proposed design in order to “show a way forward for a LACMA that is improved, fresh, and practical, not reduced and compromised.”

Our design proposed to support LACMA’s mission through a new building that unifies its whole campus, improves its relationship to Hancock Park and exceeds its ability to meet current program needs. Our approach offers an inspired experience expressive of Los Angeles in its openness, multiplicity of urban, natural and cultural connections and abundant use of controlled natural light.

Our plan replaces the four obsolete, existing east campus buildings with a compelling 21st century LA museum. Spanning north-south from Wilshire to 6th Street, the new building defines the east edge of the campus and west edge of the park. The building’s main volume is lifted to allow spatial continuity between the campus and park. The extended east-west axis continues the west campus into a new entry courtyard, the park and Pavilion for Japanese Art. An elevated 3-story high public hallway connects three levels of exhibition space and serves as a civic-scaled porch overlooking the park and city. A landscaped monumental berm and stair connects the building and park, allowing seating, concerts and park overlooks.

The proposed building includes over 400,000 square feet of new space organized on five levels. It will feature over 195,000 square feet of gallery space, including 89,000 square feet of special exhibition space added to the 100,000 square feet already housed in the Broad Contemporary Museum and Reznick Pavilion, over 100,000 square feet of permanent curated gallery space, equaling that in the existing buildings, and administrative and curatorial functions, an auditorium, library, shop and cafés.