The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled more details of its plans for its 300,000 square-foot museum located in the historic May Company Wilshire building at LACMA. The museum is being designed by award-winning architects Renzo Piano and Zoltan Pali, who notably designed The Nightingale Residence.
Along with the new renderings, the Academy launched an interactive website that offers insight into the design elements of the museum, which is set to open in 2016 and will be the first major U.S. museum dedicated to the history and ongoing development of motion pictures. The Academy Museum will contain state-of-the-art galleries, exhibition spaces, movie theaters, educational areas, and special event spaces.
Speaking on the role of the museum, Zoltan Pali notes: “It is vital for Los Angeles to celebrate and safeguard its architectural heritage, and by pairing the historic May Company Building with modern architecture, both take on new meaning and importance, advancing richness and diversity within the city’s cultural landscape.”
On the design, Renzo Piano, shares: “The design for the museum will finally enable this wonderful building to be animated and contribute to the city after sitting underutilized for so long. I am very inspired by the Academy’s mission, and the idea of the arts and sciences working together to create films. Our design will preserve the Wilshire May Company building’s historic public profile while simultaneously signaling that the building is taking on a new life—a life that celebrates both the industry and art form that this city created and gave to the world.”
Learn more about the Academy museum and how you can support its development at www.oscars.org/academymuseum.
