Photographer Iwan Baan has released images of the completed David Geffen Galleries, the long-awaited Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) expansion designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The undulating, glass-and-concrete building stretches along Wilshire Boulevard, elevated 30 feet above street level, and is set to open fully in April 2026. Major construction finished at the end of 2024, with some lower-level spaces already open. The single-level design eliminates traditional hierarchies, placing all artworks on the same plane, and the building aims for LEED Gold certification with low-carbon concrete and natural ventilation.
The project, which began with a competition in 2001 and faced numerous setbacks and controversies—including a major redesign in 2014 to protect the La Brea Tar Pits and demolition of existing campus buildings in 2020—represents a transformative moment for LACMA. It will expand the museum's gallery space from 130,000 to 220,000 square feet, providing a new home for its permanent collection. The opening marks the culmination of over two decades of planning and construction, positioning LACMA as a major architectural landmark in Los Angeles.