As the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) continued their expansion on its Wilshire Boulevard campus, the museum required additional office space to accommodate their leadership, curatorial, collections, exhibition, and public outreach teams. The new administrative offices’ design meets both their cultural aspirations and operational needs – accommodating a dense office program within an open, transparent work environment. The design provides flexible spaces that facilitate a range of work functions and work styles, and supports and maximizes opportunities for employee and staff connectivity.
While the pre-existing LACMA space was composed of polished materials and branded elements, the current design provides a strategically meditative tone. The new space enjoys an abundance of natural light, and 360-degree views of the city activity quietly below. These assets are leveraged by a material palette of glass, white surfaces, and acoustical treatments throughout the space.
Along the east and west exposures, private offices are located along the perimeter, thereby mitigating direct sunlight exposure. Glass fronts allow for ambient light to pass through the offices into internal circulation areas. Along the north and south exposures, private offices are located internally. Natural light floods the open work areas and continue to pass into the private offices. White walls reflect natural light, providing crisp illumination of work surfaces for viewing work, while reducing the need for artificial lighting.
LACMA’s administrative staff often engage in some type of heads-down, focused work. CO selected furniture systems that offer visual privacy and acoustical control while balancing access to daylight and views. The wall surfaces also provide a backdrop for the museum staff to curate their workspace. Along the west and east walls, white walls allow for ever-changing exhibits. Along the north and south walls, tack-able surfaces adjacent to the open work areas provide mock-up space for future exhibits and associated graphics. The resulting work environment is a calm white palette punctuated by staff’s books, artifacts, posters, and evolving mock-ups of upcoming events.
