Travel To: Holocaust Museum LA

Join us for a tour and presentation of the Holocaust Museum LA (HMLA) and its new “Building Truth” expansion project. The Jona Goldrich Campus, currently under construction, will double the museum’s physical space to serve 150,000 students annually, greatly amplifying its reach and impact. HMLA transformed a formerly under-utilized section of Pan Pacific Park, seamlessly integrating into the natural curvature of the park. With a primary focus on hosting culturally diverse students and public visitors, the architectural, landscape, and exhibition designs were developed to engage and educate the broadest audience possible.

The economical design of the nine galleries maximizes the 32,000-square-foot museum, and the incorporation of interactive technology, including audio-visual content and touchscreen displays, allows HMLA to convey a wealth of virtual information to visitors of all ages. The subterranean building’s understated presence on the street belies the complexity and volume of exhibition content, and the evocative experiences of the project overall.

In contrast to the compression of space and limited light in the existing museum, the new addition is entirely above ground. Utilizing truss technology, an “occupied bridge” spans across the LA County flood control spillway, while a new PTFE canopy rests atop the existing museum with an amoebic form. This addition embraces two new pavilions, offering lightness, shade, and transparency to transitional exterior atriums and gardens.

Beth Kean, HMLA CEO, and Hagy Belzberg, FAIA, Founding Partner of Santa Monica-based BA Collective, the firm behind the museum’s design, will lead a tour of the existing museum and the construction site of the new expansion. Belzberg will provide additional live commentary about the architecture and design of both projects.

This event is part of Archtober's virtual Travel To series, in partnership with Bloomberg Connects. The Travel To series seeks to highlight Bloomberg Connects partners that feature iconic architecture and historically significant sites across the United States and around the world. Join us as curators, preservationists, historians (and more!) bring these places and spaces alive in the comfort of your home.

Speakers:
Hagy Belzberg, FAIA, OAA, Founding Partner, BA Collective
Beth Kean, CEO, Holocaust Museum LA

About the Speakers:
Hagy Belzberg, FAIA, OAA is the Founding Partner, BA Collective, an architecture and interior design firm based in Santa Monica, California. He received his Master of Architecture with Distinction from Harvard University and held teaching positions at UCLA, USC, and SCI-Arc. Since 1997 he has established a diverse portfolio of award-winning built work, often using digital fabrication and non-traditional construction methods. He was honored by the American Institute of Architects California Council as an Emerging Talent, and in 2008 he was recognized as an “Emerging Voice” by the Architectural League of New York. In 2010, Hagy was confirmed into The College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects for “notable contributions to the advancement of the profession of architecture” and was a 2014 Interior Design Magazine Hall of Fame inductee. Recipient of over 100 awards, his work has been included in exhibitions in the USA, Canada, Spain, and Greece, and published in over 20 countries.

The granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Holocaust Museum LA’s Chief Executive Officer Beth Kean joined the museum’s Board of Trustees in 2004, served as the Board Treasurer from 2006-2016 and as Board Chair, before becoming interim CEO in 2016. She was appointed permanent CEO in March 2017. In 2010, as Treasurer, she was part of the team guiding the museum’s transition from a small space on Wilshire Boulevard to its current award-winning campus in Pan Pacific Park. Now, as CEO, Beth is spearheading the museum’s “Building Truth” campus expansion, which will double the footprint, creating more space for exhibits, classrooms, and public programs; increase the museum’s visibility; and amplify its reach and impact. Prior to joining the museum, Beth had over 25 years of experience working in the finance sector, focusing on fixed-income and social-impact finance.

About Archtober's Guide on Bloomberg Connects:
Archtober’s Guide on the free Bloomberg Connects App is for anyone interested in connecting with architecture and design. Whether you are an architectural historian, a design enthusiast, a student, or someone having their first architecture experience, the Archtober Guide is designed to help you explore notable contemporary and historical sites across New York City’s five boroughs. Learn more about the Archtober Guide here.
 

If you register for a virtual ticket, you will receive an email with a Zoom link to access the program.