L.A.'s natural history museum completes reimagining of buildings and grounds

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles completed a full-scale transformation this month with the opening of its new Nature Gardens and Nature Lab and the Otis Booth Pavilion with an iconic Fin Whale specimen. The four-year, $135 million project included a renovation and restoration of its original building and its historic rotunda.
June 13, 2013
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The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles completed a full-scale transformation this month with the opening of its new Nature Gardens and Nature Lab and the Otis Booth Pavilion with an iconic Fin Whale specimen. The four-year, $135 million project included a renovation and restoration of its original building and its historic rotunda.

Led by CO Architects, the project’s goal was to better weave the institution into the community through greater transparency and outreach. The museum’s site and gardens were wholly reworked with an eye toward achieving better connections between indoor and outdoor program space, and more than 60% of the indoor space was remodeled to bring in more light, add a cafe, and create additional gallery space for temporary and permanent exhibitions.

(http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=22715&region=1)

About the Author

Drew Ballensky

Drew Ballensky is general manager of Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.’s central U.S. facility in Iowa and company spokesman for Duro-Last’s cool roofing, sustainability and architectural education programs. He is past-president of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association and chairman of CFFA’s Vinyl Roofing Division. Drew earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from the University of Northern Iowa and master’s degree in business administration from Florida State University. Drew has over 29 years experience in business and industry in various engineering and managerial capacities. He has worked in the U.S. and Canadian operations for a major international manufacturer of pre-engineered steel buildings, was a financial analyst with a major athletic apparel manufacturer and was an owner of a general contracting company.
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