The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has announced that the David Geffen Galleries will officially open to the public on May 4, 2026. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor, the $724 million horizontal concrete and glass structure spans Wilshire Boulevard and replaces four aging buildings. The new facility features a single-story main exhibition level dedicated to the museum’s permanent collection, supported by seven ground-level pavilions housing educational spaces, a theater, and retail outlets.
This opening marks the culmination of a decade-long, often controversial transformation of one of the United States' most prominent encyclopedic museums. By placing the entire permanent collection on a single level, Director Michael Govan aims to democratize art history, encouraging visitors to discover diverse cultures and eras through a non-hierarchical layout. The project represents a massive financial and architectural bet on the future of Los Angeles’ cultural landscape and the evolving role of the modern museum.