project description

project name

petersen automotive museum

location

los angeles, ca

completion date

june 1994

project team

architect: marc whipple aia

media coverage

the new york times

The challenge here was to transform a former department store into the largest automobile museum West of the Mississippi (300,000 square feet) in a mere 24 months, from start to finish. (LeMay America’s Car Museum, which opened in 2012 now holds that distinction). To do so, we worked closely with curators, historians, and exhibit designers to turn this large and multi-faceted project into a cohesive experience for visitors.

The museum was the dream of Bob and Margie Petersen, in collaboration with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the ground floor features a dedicated display of automobiles set in their historical context, with more than 150 rare and classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles, and an adjacent Johnny Rockets restaurant.

The second floor includes temporary gallery spaces exhibiting Hollywood cars, motorcycles, and fantasy cars, and the third floor May Family Discovery Center includes an interactive “hands-on” learning center that teaches children basic scientific principles, by explaining the fundamental functions of a car. A spectacular all-glass penthouse conference center, Founder’s Lounge, and kitchen comprise the fourth floor, which is available for special events and functions.

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