The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is preparing to open the David Geffen Galleries this spring, marking the culmination of a nearly two-decade campus overhaul led by director Michael Govan. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor, the $720 million concrete structure spans 900 feet and is elevated 30 feet above ground to create a public plaza. The new building features 110,000 square feet of gallery space on a single horizontal level, utilizing unconventional materials like gray concrete and floor-to-ceiling windows to integrate natural light.
This opening represents a significant shift in museum philosophy, moving away from traditional 19th-century chronological and regional hierarchies. By organizing the inaugural installation around the world's major bodies of water rather than specific eras, LACMA aims to encourage non-linear exploration and highlight global connections through trade and migration. The project reflects a broader trend in the art world toward rethinking institutional architecture and curatorial frameworks to better reflect a globalized history.