LA’s Hammer Museum has debuted the final phase of its two-decade expansion and renovation, designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture.
The museum’s $90 million project was unveiled over the weekend. In total, the Hammer has grown by 40,000 square feet, while its gallery space has increased by 60 percent.
Highlights also include a new entrance and street-level exhibition spaces with a lobby for rotating installations, a new 5,600-square-foot gallery, and an outdoor sculpture terrace.
The Hammer’s new building, called the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Cultural Center, is named after the Resnicks in recognition of their $30m donation.
“New spaces filled with powerful artworks“
“It’s beyond gratifying to see these new spaces filled with powerful artworks spanning an entire city block of Wilshire Boulevard, inviting the community into the museum,” said the Hammer’s director Ann Philbin.
“I’m grateful to the generosity and support of Lynda and Stewart Resnick, as well as our board chair Marcy Carsey and so many generous donors to our campaign, which have brought us to this milestone that has been more than 20 years in the making.
“It’s been a joy to work so closely with Michael Maltzan all these years and to celebrate this moment together.”
The launch of the new building follows the renovation of the museum’s existing galleries, public spaces, restaurant and shop, as well as the expansion of some of its other spaces, and the addition of a new gallery and study centre.
“Stewart and I have a long and proud association with the Hammer, and we are thrilled to be part of this next evolution,” said Lynda Resnick, the co-owner of The Wonderful Company.
“Creative expression and art as a platform for ideas immeasurably benefits our world and is more important today than ever.”
In a statement, Michael Maltzan said his architecture firm “had a clear vision of what the Hammer should become”.
Images: Hammer Museum
