LACMA, Los Angeles: Steel-and-glass design with brass cladding made by seele

Steel-and-glass structure with brass cladding for LACMA, made by seele

4,800sqm

steel-and-glass façade

180t

steel substructure

494sqm

curved glass façade

180t

brass cladding

steel-and-glass design with curved glass for LACMA

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection of more than 142,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe. As part of a redesign, a new building is to be constructed for the permanent collection, based on the designs of Swiss architect Peter Zumthor.

seele is realising 4,800sqm mullion and transom façades for the prestigious project. Due to the organic shape of the building's floor plan, both straight and curved glass elements are used. A further highlight is the brass cladding.

On both the ground floor and the upper floor, the façade consists of a steel substructure, which is clad with a total of 180t of brass panels with a thickness of almost 10mm. The glazing consists of approx. 4,300sqm of straight insulated glass with a height of up to 8.30m, which is equipped with a sun protection coating to protect the art objects. A total of 494sqm of curved glass is used in the concave indentations of the façade. After glazing, the brass cladding is fixed to the steel by screws.

Until the end of 2020, the design and mock-up planning was developed by seele. In 2021, the mock-up will be built and tested and the entire fabrication planning and production will follow. Installation on site is then scheduled from mid 2022 to mid 2023.

Header image and reference overview: © Atelier Peter Zumthor

Steel-and-glass façade for LACMA made by seele — © Atelier Peter Zumthor

Mullion-transom façade under consideration of earthquake resistance

Los Angeles is located in an earthquake-prone area. Due to the local conditions and the up to 12m cantilevering roof of the building, there are special requirements for the façade construction. The steel posts are connected to dampers at the head point on the upper floor in order to dampen and reduce the vibrations and building movements that could occur. In addition, accordion-shaped gaskets are used at the head point of the glazing on both the ground and the upper floor, so that the façade and the concrete ceiling can move independently of each other.

Credits

Client	Los Angeles County Museum of Art
General contractor	Clark Construction Group
Architect	Atelier Peter Zumthor
Engineer	SOM
Date of completion	2024
Scope of work by seele	A total of 4,800sqm steel stick system façade with straight and curved glazing 180t steel substructure with approx. 180t brass cladding 1,447 sqm straight insulated glass façade on ground floor 2,817 sqm straight insulated glass façade on ground level 494sqm curved glass façade on upper level 5 window units 2 vestibules 10 double-leaf and 6 single-leaf doors with brass profiles