renzo piano's academy museum of motion pictures opens to the public in los angeles

THE ACADEMY MUSEUM OF MOTION PICTURES IN LOS ANGELES OPENS TO THE PUBLIC

the academy museum of motion pictures (see our previous coverage here) will open its doors to the public on thursday, september 30, 2021. located in los angeles and designed by renzo piano, the new museum is the largest in north america dedicated to exploring films and film culture. 

‘we are living in changing and ever-evolving times, and now more than ever we need to come together to share our stories, learn from one another, and bond over being entertained and delighted. this is what movies do, and we are thrilled to be opening such a dynamic, diverse and welcoming institution devoted to this beloved artform,’ said bill kramer, director and president of the academy museum. ‘I am so deeply grateful to the entire academy museum team and all of our partners who have worked with such dedication and integrity in building this new institution — for los angeles and for the world.’

images © iwan baan unless otherwise noted
courtesy of academy museum foundation

THE ACADEMY MUSEUM COMBINES TWO CONTRASTING STRUCTURES

designed by pritzker prize-winnin architect renzo piano and renzo piano building workshop in collaboration with gensler as executive architect, the 300,000-square-foot academy museum at wilshire boulevard and fairfax avenue combines two contrasting structures: the renovated and expanded may company building, a 1939 streamline moderne landmark now renamed the saban building in honor of benefactors cheryl and haim saban, and a soaring new glass – and – concrete spherical building.

the academy museum comprises six stories

THE OPENING EXHIBITIONS INCLUDE ONE CELEBRATING STUDIO GHIBLI

the seven-story, 300,000-square-foot academy museum draws from the unique resources of the academy of motion picture arts and sciences. it will open with the 30,000-square-foot core exhibition stories of cinema, offering celebratory, critical, and personal perspectives on the disciplines and impact of moviemaking, past and present. the temporary exhibition hayao miyazaki will also be on show, being the first museum retrospective in north america of the work of the acclaimed filmmaker and studio ghibli. three other exhibitions: the path to cinema: highlights from richard balzer collection; backdrop: an invisible art; and the oscars® experiences will also be part of the opening.

the 1,000-seat david geffen theater will offer daily screenings and major film events

PROGRAMS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

the museum’s roster of screenings — including oscar® sundays and family matinees — will be presented in its new 1,000-seat david geffen theater and the 288-seat ted mann theater beginning on september 30 with a special presentation of the wizard of oz.

ongoing education and family programs will take place throughout the museum in exhibition galleries, theaters, and the shirley temple education studio. these will include teen programs, family studio activities, and school tours.

in addition to being able to screen 35mm, 70mm, and digital laser projection, the theater also has nitrate capabilities

fanny’s, the restaurant and café developed by restaurateurs bill chait and carl schuster and designed by la-based commune design, will open to visitors with breakfast and lunch service with dinner service added later in the fall. named after fanny brice — the legendary movie, vaudeville, theater, and radio star portrayed by barbra streisand in her oscar – winning role as funny girl (1968) — the striking two-story, 10,000 square foot space, conceptualized by the late architect osvaldo maiozzi, features a chef-designed open kitchen, elegant bar, and captain-based service style that nods to a bygone era. raphael francois serves as executive chef and julian cox as the bar’s mixologist. wolfgang puck catering will oversee catering services at the museum.

glass and concrete sphere with a terrace overlooking the hollywood hills

the more intimate 288-seat ted mann theater will offer cinema series in 16mm, 35mm, 70mm, as well as digital laser projection

the academy museum has actively been acquiring three-dimensional motion-picture objects since 2008

titled ‘stories of cinema’, a multi-story core exhibition designed by wHY architecture will be accompanied by a schedule of diverse temporary exhibitions

the inaugural temporary exhibition marks the first museum retrospective in the americas dedicated to hayao miyazaki

project info:

name: academy museum of motion pictures
location: 6067 wilshire boulevard, los angeles, CA 90036
public opening: september 30, 2021

design architect: renzo piano building workshop with contribution to concept design by studio pali fekete architects
executive architect: gensler, los angeles, CA
exhibition designer: wHY architecture / kulapat yantrasast, brian butterfield and jarrod beck
general contractor: MATT construction
project manager: paratus group, new york, NY
LEED consultant team: atelier ten
building conservation experts: john fidler preservation technology inc.
acoustician, audio video and projection: jaffe holden acoustics
civil engineer: KPFF consulting engineers
exhibition audio visual: electrosonic, inc.
exhibition and wayfinding graphic design: IN-FO.CO
exhibition construction: alain hirsch construction corp.
exhibition fabrication: cinnabar california, inc.
exhibition lighting: available light
façade consultant: knippers helbig
geotechnical engineer: shannon & wilson, inc.
glass fabricator: saint-gobain, steyr, austria
historic preservation: historic preservation resources group
landscape architect: LRM landscape architects
lighting design: buro happold
mechanical, electrical, plumbing: buro happold
paleontological: la brea tar pits and museum
security: layne consultants international
structural engineer: buro happold
theater design: arup
vertical transportation: HKA elevator consulting
waterproofing: simpson gumpertz & heger