Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

Designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop in collaboration with Gensler, The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is the world’s premier institution dedicated to the art and science of filmmaking.

The team restored and transformed the historical 1939 May Company Building, renamed the Saban Building, which encompasses more than 190,000 sqft of gallery and exhibition space, event venues, restaurant and retail space, education labs, offices, conservation facilities, and the 300 seat Ted Mann Theater. Keeping the original character of the former department store’s Wilshire façade, the team sourced new limestone from where the original stone was quarried, as well as rehabilitated the black granite, gold tile and bronze doors. The interior of the building was retrofitted, and a glass curtain wall replaced the north façade of the Saban Building.

Tethered to the museum by three bridges, a 28,000 sqft precast concrete and glass sphere houses the state-of-the-art, 1,000-seat David Geffen Theater that floats above an active plaza on a series of base isolator piers. Perched atop the sphere, a glass-enclosed terrace and exhibition space invites the public to enjoy spectacular panoramic views, providing a unique and memorable visitor experience. Extensive supports and birdcage scaffolding held the structure in place until the final piece of glass was locked together like the keystone of an arch.