The new LACMA Theatre

 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036  | map |

A view east on Wilshire shortly after removal of the scaffolding and steel supports. The theatre will be on the right, on the ground floor of the portion of the building that's south of Wilshire. Photo: Bill Counter - October 26, 2024

Opening: Perhaps Spring 2025 for LACMA member previews with the public opening of the theatre and gallery spaces scheduled for April 2026. 

The new 900 foot long building will contain a theatre that's intended to be a replacement for LCMA's Bing Theatre, demolished in 2020. The building will have entrances on both sides of Wilshire Blvd.

In the October 25, 2024 L.A. Times article  "LACMA announces opening date in 2026 as scaffolding comes down on Wilshire Blvd.," Jessica Gelt comments: 

"The portion of the building that perches on the south side of Wilshire, where a surface parking lot once stood, will include a cafe that will look out on the street, as well as a 300-seat theater housed in one of seven 30-foot-tall ground-level pavilions holding the museum’s exhibition floor aloft. Other pavilion bases will hold a restaurant, the LACMA store and the W.M. Keck Education Center..."

Theatre name: Unknown at this point. The building will be called the David Geffen Galleries.

Seating: It's projected to be about 300. 

Architect: Peter Zumthor. See the museum's "Building LACMA" page.

 

 

 The view east: a rendering from Atelier Peter Zumthor.    

The rendering is one of several that make an appearance in "More progress for LACMA's David Geffen Galleries," Steven Sharp's April 2024 article for Urbanize. Some of his comments:

"The project, which began work in 2020, was the subject of contention at the time due to a decision by museum leadership to replace the museum's original buildings designed by William Pereira. In their place stands a new two-story structure which bridges across Wilshire Boulevard and will feature gallery space, a new theater, classrooms, restaurant space, a shop, event space, and other back-of house functions. Peter Zumthor designed the building with an amorphous footprint, with a largely concrete exterior and glass wrapping the upper gallery. The museum intends to use this space to display works such as sculptures, tiles, and ceramics which can be shown safely in natural light.

"The David Geffen Galleries, consisting of 350,000 square feet of total space and 110,000 square feet of gallery space, will actually be smaller than the buildings they replaced, which accounted for roughly 393,000 square feet of total floor area - including 120,000 square feet of galleries. LACMA has argued that the difference is accounted for by the relocation of art storage and office space to off-site locations. Likewise, the museum has pointed out that the museum's overall footprint will be 220,000 square feet after completion of the new project - up from 130,000 square feet in 2007." 

 

 Looking west on Wilshire in another rendering. The theatre and a cafe are in the area to the left. 

 

In this rendering we're at the cafe near the theatre entrance on the south side of Wilshire. 

 

Website: Film at LACMA

 

 

2020 - Looking west in January. The lot on the left would become the new theatre's site as part of the landing pod for the south end of the 900 foot long building. Image: Google Maps

 

 

2023 - A view east in November with the construction spanning Wilshire. Image: Google Maps

 

March 2024 - A Hunter Kerhart photo. This view as well as the two below were featured in a Facebook post from Urbanize. These images, as well as many more, were featured in Steven Sharp's April 13 Urbanize article "More progress for LACMA's David Geffen Galleries." See more about Hunter's work on his website: HunterKerhart.com

 

 

March 2024 - Looking toward downtown. Photo: Hunter Kerhart

 

 

March 2024 - A view west toward the Academy Museum. The theatre location is on the left, south of Wilshire. Photo: Hunter Kerhart 

 

April 2024 - The view from the west toward the entrance plaza end of the building north of Wilshire. Photo Bill Counter    

 

April 2024 - The north end of the building as seen from across the street with Urban Light on the left.. Photo: Bill Counter  

 

April 2024 - Crossing Wilshire. Photo Bill Counter 

 

May 2024 - The south end of the project destined to house a cafe and the theatre on the ground floor. Image: Google Maps

 

October 2024 - Looking north across Wilshire after the scaffolding had been removed. On the right it's the Japanese Pavilion. The photo by Brian van der Brug is one of four appearing with "LACMA announces opening date in 2026... " Jessica Gelt's October 25, 2024 L.A. Times article. 

 

 

 

October 2024 -The south end of the building. Photo: Bill Counter 

 

October 2024 - The screen end of the new theatre. Photo: Bill Counter  

 

 

 

October 2024 - The view on Wilshire looking west with a reflection of the SAG-AFTRA Building in the glass. A cafe and the theatre entrance will be over on the left. The truck on the right was getting loaded with steel beams that had been used to support the 150' span across Wilshire. Photo: Bill Counter  

 

 

October 2024 - Looking in at the south end of the building. Photo: Bill Counter  

More Information: See "David Geffen Galleries Construction Enters Final Phase, April 2026 Opening Planned," an October 2024 construction update on the LACMA Unframed site. 

More details about the building are in Jessica Gelt's "LACMA announces opening date in 2026 as scaffolding comes down on Wilshire Blvd.," her October 25, 2024 article for the L.A. Times. 

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