LA COUNTY MUSEUM OF ARTS
Located between the historic La Brea Tar Pits and Chris Burden’s renowned “Urban Light” installation, the upgraded campus of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) redefines both the skyline and experience of Wilshire Boulevard. Completed in the summer of 2025, this 347,500-square-foot, three-level cultural landmark was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor and is targeting LEED Gold certification.
At the heart of the project lies an ambitious vision: to elevate the entire gallery level 30 feet above street level—spanning Wilshire Boulevard itself—to eliminate hierarchies among artistic traditions and create a unified cultural experience. This singular horizontal gallery plane is supported by seven pavilions resting on 56 Triple Pendulum Isolators, enabling the structure to float across the site while meeting stringent seismic requirements. Some pedestals supporting the isolators reach 24 feet in height and were cast in 8,000 PSI concrete.
To handle the extreme roof cantilevers, post-tensioning cables were threaded through the box girders and walls from the exhibition floor up to the roof, enabling the system to perform like a suspension bridge. No deck could be stressed until the structure in each of the four work zones, along with adjacent zones, was topped out. By the time the roof deck was in place, shoring loads under the exhibition level exceeded 800 pounds per square foot. Once a zone was completed, cables were tensioned and the shoring removed progressively from the top down.
Complex site conditions—including the discovery of prehistoric remains during excavation and variable soil composition—demanded advanced foundation solutions. Perimeter walls were battered and post-tensioned to resist earth pressures, with foundation depths ranging from 2.5 to 7.5 feet. Four major mat foundation pours totaling over 14,000 cubic yards of concrete formed the structural base.
Every architectural element was approached with precision and intention. Exposed architectural concrete walls rise continuously from the street to roof. The gallery floor hosts three different types of gallery spaces in which to display art. MDO plywood formwork sheets were used only once to ensure a consistent concrete finish. Door bucks were cast-in-place with precision mitered joints and recessed hardware pockets for a seamless architectural expression. The exposed soffit above features a six-foot equilateral triangle layout, supported by a custom plywood system that ensured consistent seam alignment.
In achieving these architectural finishes, a wide range of forming materials were carefully selected and applied to shape the unique walls, ceilings, and openings. Medium-density overlay (MDO) plywood, high-density overlay (HDO) plywood, phenolic plywood, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and extruded plastic each played a role in producing distinct surface qualities and precise geometries. These materials allowed the team to balance durability and workability while delivering the crisp lines, smooth surfaces, and complex recesses envisioned by the architect. Together, they enabled the creation of concrete elements that were not only structurally sound but also visually expressive, reinforcing the museum’s identity as a work of art in itself.
A unique challenge in craftsmanship was met with a creative solution: a comprehensive, step-by-step manual developed by the project team. This guide outlined the tools, sequences, and tolerances for every structural element—from formwork fabrication to final concrete finish. Created through collaboration across crews and updated regularly throughout construction, the manual became the cornerstone of quality assurance and training for new team members.
Durability and detail were priorities throughout construction. Disposable boot covers and foam tool trays protected architectural finishes during installation. Dowels were covered to prevent rust staining from migration moisture, and wall bases were shielded during later-stage construction to preserve surface integrity.
Sustainability, craftsmanship, and safety coalesced into a project of national significance. Over 75,000 cubic yards of concrete were placed, with more than 700,000 man-hours recorded with zero time lost incidents. The LACMA project sets a new standard in architectural execution and collaborative construction for civic and cultural infrastructure.
