the fluid facade of los angeles' lucas museum is now being installed

lucas museum achieves new milestone

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art announces latest construction updates of its sculptural new home in Los Angeles with architecture by MAD Architects. The first of its kind, the space will be dedicated to the ‘meaning and impact of narrative art.’ Taking shape in the California city’s Exposition Park, the five-story, 300,000-square-foot building has achieved major milestones. The park and gardens are integrating into the eleven-acre campus, while the museum‘s collection is expanding — all in preparation for the project’s expected opening in 2025.

the complex facade takes shape in los angeles

At the center of the Lucas Museum’s eleven-acre campus is the fluid new building designed by Ma Yansong of MAD Architects (see here) with Michael Siegel of Stantec as executive architect. The architecture takes influence from the large trees across Los Angeles’ Exposition Park, which ‘provide places of shelter and gathering.’ The building will take shape as an extension of that canopy of trees, creating a place of gathering in its central plaza.

The building’s organic surface is realized with an assemblage of over 1,500 curved fiberglass-reinforced polymer (FRP) panels, each uniquely shaped and placed to create the whole. Installation of these panels onto the southern façade has now begun, marking a major milestone in the project’s construction.

Sandra Jackson-Dumont, Director and Chief Executive Officer, comments: ‘It’s humbling and energizing to see how all aspects of this new public resource are taking shape. We believe that narrative art can connect us and help shape a more just society. As a result, every element of this institution contributes to that idea — the site is one physical manifestation of that.

‘The campus with its iconic building and arched belly that creates a canopy, coupled with the 200-plus trees taking root in the park, together create another community gathering place with much needed shade for our neighbors and others who will use the site. Another manifestation of that idea is the museum’s wonderfully evolving collection of narrative art that features multifaceted perspectives through the stories humans have told throughout history.

‘Through these works, we hope to ignite complex and nuanced conversation that may impact the ways folks understand the world, but perhaps even what they decide to do in the world. We’re thrilled to share this significant progress, and I look forward to keeping the public informed as we forge ahead.’

inside the lucas museum of narrative art

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will introduce a diverse new collection of artworks to Los Angeles. Works will range from ancient Roman mosaics to Renaissance painting to contemporary photography, and representing diverse cultures and artistic media, the museum’s collection demonstrates the breadth of themes and viewpoints with which narrative art can engage dynamic and diverse publics.

Pilar Tompkins Rivas, Chief Curator and Deputy Director of Curatorial and Collections, continues: ‘Through narrative art, people from every age and background can find connections between their lives and the lives of others across eras, cultures, and regions of the globe.’

planting the bucolic landscape

The park and gardens of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will be designed by Mia Lehrer of Studio-MLA. Here, an expansive and multilayered landscape will integrated with the building and replace the asphalt parking which once occupied the site. Another milestone for the Lucas Museum, the first of over two hundred trees has been put into the ground.

As a parking lot, water runoff was directed into the city sewer system. Once the landscape is completed, a rain-harvesting system will capture water for irrigation. Other features of the park and gardens will including the amphitheater, a hanging garden, and a pedestrian bridge — all of which are now taking shape.

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image by Roberto Gomez, courtesy USC School of Cinematic Arts © 2022 JAKS Productions

image by Hunter Kerhart, all rights reserved, © 2022 Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

project info:

project title: Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

architecture: MAD Architects

executive architect: Stantec (Michael Siegel)

location: Los Angeles, California

partners: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano

competition and design team: Kin Li, Tiffany Dahlen, Daniel Weber, Jordan Kanter, Daniel Gillen, Wu Kaicong, Zhao Wei, Flora Lee, Jonathan Kontuly, Carmen Carrasco, Jacob Hu, Satoko Narishige, Zhu Yuhao, Casey Kell, Matthew Pugh, Kazushi Miyamoto, Ben Yuqiang, Hiroki Fujino, Chris Nolop, Kek Seow, Younjin Park, Brecht Van Acker, Andrea D’antrassi, Zhang Yiran, Pouya Goshayeshi, Dora Lam, Victor Tung, Steven Park Chaffer, Sean Tan, Sheenam Mujoo, Dookee Chung, Cesar D. Pena Del Rey, Valeria Pestereva, Wang Yiqi, Dmitry Seregin, Lin Yuyang, Che-hung Chien, Zhang Lu, Zeng Hao, Young Koo Kang, Shen Han

previous coverage: February 2020, March 2018, May 2017, October 2016