OMA breaks ground on audrey irmas pavilion, an extension of LA's wilshire boulevard temple

as of november 11, 2018, construction on the OMA-designed audrey irmas pavilion (see designboom’s previous coverage here) is underway. led by shohei shigematsu, head of the firm’s new york office, and rem koolhaas as partner, the project sees a new addition to the wilshire boulevard temple, los angeles’ oldest jewish congregation, which will serve as a multi-use cultural, religious and event space. 

all images courtesy of OMA new york

marking OMA’s first cultural building in los angeles, the audrey irmas pavilion will include a grand ballroom, a series of meeting rooms, performance spaces and a rooftop sky garden with panoramic views. right next to the temple’s historic sanctuary in koreatown, the new addition become a gathering place for hosting both religious and cultural activities and performances for the entire community. 

‘when so many things seem to be pulling us further apart from each other, the temple is an institution that brings the city closer together in peace,’ notes rem koolhaas. ‘I congratulate my partner shohei for his leadership of this project, which we hope will become a home for reflection, love and community.’

explaining how the new addition focuses on communicating the energy of gathering and exchange, shohei shigematsu added: ‘the pavilion is an active gesture, shaped by respectful moves away from the surrounding historic buildings, reaching out onto wilshire boulevard to create a new presence. we are thrilled to break ground on this significant project that will provide a new anchor for the wilshire boulevard temple and the broader los angeles community.’

the audrey irmas pavilion is developed in collaboration with executive architect gruen associates, landscape architect studio-MLA and engineering by arup. completion of construction is anticipated in late 2020.