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Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) — David Geffen Galleries
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) — David Geffen Galleries
Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Other Projects by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) — David Geffen Galleries
Los Angeles, CA, United States
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2026
SIZE
300,000 sqft - 500,000 sqft
BUDGET
$100M +
The David Geffen Galleries serve as the new home for LACMA’s permanent collection and a powerful demonstration of concrete as the defining material of the building, encompassing structure, finish, environmental performance, and spatial experience. Designed by architect Peter Zumthor in collaboration with SOM, the 900-foot-long building spans Wilshire Boulevard, hovering 30 feet above the ground as a continuous, sculptural form.
Concrete defines the project at every scale. The entirely exposed, post-tensioned concrete structure functions as both the primary structural system and the finished architectural surface. A monolithic, amoebic slab - shaped by sweeping curves and dramatic cantilevers - supports a single, expansive gallery level, allowing the collection to unfold as a continuous experience. The exhibition floor is wrapped in a glass facade that frames panoramic views of Los Angeles, while deep concrete overhangs modulate daylight and shade the galleries below.
Achieving this architectural clarity required exceptional structural precision. More than 360 miles of post-tensioning cables and 15,000 tons of reinforcing steel are embedded within 85,000 cubic yards of concrete, enabling the building’s 60-80 foot cantilevers, joint-free construction, and fully exposed surfaces without secondary framing. All mechanical, electrical, lighting and life-safety systems are concealed within concrete plenums with circular penetrations integrated into the concrete ceilings, preserving the calm, uninterrupted quality of the galleries and eliminating exposed ductwork.
Resting on 56 seismic base isolators, the building achieves a high level of seismic resilience while maintaining its unprecedented span across a major urban corridor. The thermal mass of the concrete, combined with passive shading and controlled daylighting, helps regulate interior temperatures, contributing to energy performance approximately 20 percent better than the ASHRAE baseline for museums.
The result is a concrete sanctuary, enveloping a cool, serene, and light-filled environment where visitors can enjoy a sophisticated cultural experience.
Concrete defines the project at every scale. The entirely exposed, post-tensioned concrete structure functions as both the primary structural system and the finished architectural surface. A monolithic, amoebic slab - shaped by sweeping curves and dramatic cantilevers - supports a single, expansive gallery level, allowing the collection to unfold as a continuous experience. The exhibition floor is wrapped in a glass facade that frames panoramic views of Los Angeles, while deep concrete overhangs modulate daylight and shade the galleries below.
Achieving this architectural clarity required exceptional structural precision. More than 360 miles of post-tensioning cables and 15,000 tons of reinforcing steel are embedded within 85,000 cubic yards of concrete, enabling the building’s 60-80 foot cantilevers, joint-free construction, and fully exposed surfaces without secondary framing. All mechanical, electrical, lighting and life-safety systems are concealed within concrete plenums with circular penetrations integrated into the concrete ceilings, preserving the calm, uninterrupted quality of the galleries and eliminating exposed ductwork.
Resting on 56 seismic base isolators, the building achieves a high level of seismic resilience while maintaining its unprecedented span across a major urban corridor. The thermal mass of the concrete, combined with passive shading and controlled daylighting, helps regulate interior temperatures, contributing to energy performance approximately 20 percent better than the ASHRAE baseline for museums.
The result is a concrete sanctuary, enveloping a cool, serene, and light-filled environment where visitors can enjoy a sophisticated cultural experience.
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