Skirball Cultural Center // Safdie Architects

Los Angeles, CA, United States

Text description provided by the architects.

Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles, the Skirball Cultural Center is a dynamic Jewish cultural institution that opened its first phase to the public in 1996. Its mission is to explore the connections between four thousand years of Jewish heritage and the vitality of American democratic ideals.

Moshe Safdie’s first cultural project in the U.S., the Skirball has been built in four phases over a thirty-year period. Safdie designed the entire campus: a rare instance of an architect overseeing multiple expansions of an initial design.
Showcasing the beauty of the southern California landscape and utilizing a serene materials palette that recalls ancient Jewish traditions, the campus spans 15 acres and is comprised of a community of gardens, courtyards, pavilions, and buildings of white concrete, pink stone, stainless steel, and glass.

Buildings and facilities include the Skirball Museum; an archaeology discovery center; a 350- seat auditorium; an amphitheater; a great hall for performing arts and social events; facilities for classes, meetings, and conferences; garden spaces; and the Noah’s Ark at the SkirballTM galleries, a destination for children and families.
The final phase of the Skirball’s expansion will be completed in October 2013 with the opening of Herscher Hall and Guerin Pavilion on the north side of the campus, creating new multipurpose spaces that accommodate the growing public demand for the institution’s facilities and programmatic resources.

The new 80,000-square-foot complex will include classrooms, conference spaces, gardens, and a grand hall accommodating up to 1,200. Reflecting the Skirball’s mission to bring individuals, families, and communities together, the new buildings will significantly expand the institution’s ability to host large-scale gatherings, such as conferences, symposia, galas, performances, classes, and social events.Architect:Total Square Footage: Principal Spaces:495,000 s.f.

of programmatic space, 540,600 s.f. parkingSkirball Museum Main BuildingMain Courtyard Arroyo Garden Ahmanson HallNorth Parking Garage Amphitheater Winnick HallHerscher HallGuerin PavilionEast Parking StructureWhite cast-in-place architectural concrete. Pink Tadoussac graniteGeneral ContractorPhase 1: C.L. Peck/Jones Brothers Construction Corporation Phases 2 – 4: MATT Construction CorporationStructural EngineerPhase 1: Albert C. Martin & Associates Phases 2 – 4: Nabih Youseff and AssociatesMechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Engineer Phase 1: Albert C.

Martin & Associates Phases 2 -3: Syska and Hennessy, Inc. Phase 4: IBE Consulting EngineersCivil EngineerPhase 1: Engineering Technology Inc. Phases 2 – 4: Sukow EngineeringGeotechnical EngineerPhases 1 – 2: Law/Crandall, Inc. / Shannon & Wilson, Inc Phases 3 – 4: Van Beveren & Butelo, Inc.Landscape ArchitectPhase 1: Emmet L.

Wemple and Associates/Ron Lovinger Phases 2 – 3: Isabelle Greene and Associates (with Ron Lovinger) Phase 4: PWP Landscape ArchitectureLightingPhase 1: Fisher Marantz Renfro Stone Phases 2 – 4: Lam Partners, Inc.AcousticsPhase 1: Paul S. Veneklasen and Associates Phases 2 – 3: Ove Arup and PartnersPhase 4: Acentech, Inc.Audiovisual and Information Transport Systems Phase 1: Nova SystemsPhases 2 – 3: Syska/Nova SystemsPhase 4: Acentech, Inc.

SecurityPhase 1: Chapman-Ducibella AssociatesPhases 2 – 3: Ducibella, Venter, and Santore and Associates Phase 4: Nova Systems Inc.Exhibit DesignPhase 1: Jean Jacques André Consultants, Ltd. Phase 3: Olson Kundig ArchitectsMaterials: Consultants:2Phase 1 Program:Square Footage: Construction Dates: Opening Date: Phase IIProgram:Square Footage: Construction Dates: Opening Date: Phase IIIProgram:Square Footage: Construction Dates: Opening Date: Phase IVProgram:Square Footage: Construction Dates:Opening Date:Skirball Museum (permanent and temporary exhibit galleries)Main Building (main entrance and lobby, archaeology discovery center, 350-seat auditorium, conference center, classrooms, offices, cafe, museum store)Main courtyardArroyo Garden254,600 sq.

ft. 1990 – 1995 April 1996Ahmanson Hall (multi-purpose facility including auditorium/ballroom) North Parking Garage (380-vehicle, below-grade structure)366,800 sq. ft. (including 275,000, sq. ft. parking structure) 1998 – 2000April 2001Amphitheater (300-seat outdoor performance space) Winnick Hall (gallery space, classrooms, offices, art studio) Arroyo garden234,700 sq. ft. 2001 – 2004 September 2004Herscher Hall (entrance lobby, pre-function space, classrooms)Guerin Pavilion (banquet hall and support facilities)East Parking Structure (500-vehicle, above- and below-grade structure)180,000 sq.

ft.2005 – 2008 (East Parking Structure)2007 – 2013 (Herscher Hall and Guerin Pavilion).

Author: Architizer Editors