Project overview:
As the centerpiece of the long-envisioned third phase (Phase III) of the California Science Center’s three-decade Master Plan, ZGF architects were commissioned to design a 200,000 square foot expansion to the Science Center, creating a permanent home for space shuttle Endeavour and a diverse collection of aircraft and spacecraft, immersive experiences and the Science Center’s signature hands-on, educational exhibits that encourage active learning through discovery.
The project was made possible by leadership gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation and the State of California; joined by principal donors Korean Air and the Kresa Family Foundation; as well as The Ahmanson Foundation, Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation, Melanie and Richard Lundquist, The Otis Booth Foundation, Ibrahim El-Hefni Technical Training Foundation, and Weingart Foundation.
Location:
700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037
The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is a major addition to the California Science Center, located in Exposition Park adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and across the street from the University of Southern California.
Size:
New building: 200,000 square feet (100,000 square feet of exhibit space)
192.5 feet tall
Existing Science Center buildings:
Phase I and II buildings: 385,000 square feet
Wallis Annenberg Building: 80,000 square feet
IMAX Theatre: 24,200 square feet
Projected Cost:
$425 million
Key Dates:
April 12, 2011: Space Shuttle Endeavour awarded to the California Science Center by NASA; project was announced.
June 1, 2022: Groundbreaking and construction commenced.
Mid-2025: Anticipated building construction completion.
TBA: Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center opening.
Principal Design Features:
Distinguishing itself from the California Science Center’s existing buildings, the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center has a unique architectural identity. Characterized by a curvilinear design of exterior forms clad in stainless steel, the new addition’s architectural expression is inspired by the aerodynamic, fluid geometry of Endeavour’s fuselage, flight deck, wings, and vertical stabilizer. The primary structure will be three levels, while the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery will have six levels—peaking at 200 feet—to accommodate the height of Endeavour in launch position. As the tallest structure in Exposition Park, Endeavour's permanent home will be visible from vantage points across Los Angeles. This iconic new structure will celebrate Endeavour’s legacy by inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers.
Galleries:
Across three multi-level galleries, including the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, Korean Air Aviation Gallery, and Kent Kresa Space Gallery, the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will feature a diverse collection of over 100 artifacts. Expanding the Science Center’s exhibit space by over 100,000 square feet, the new Air and Space Center will feature aerospace installations with immersive experiences. In the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, where Endeavour will be revealed, visitors will experience the shuttle from different vantage points. A gantry will take visitors nearly 200 feet up to view the shuttle from the top, while a 45-foot slide will whisk explorers from the second level down to the ground.
Innovation:
A stainless-steel diagrid was designed to surround the shuttle stack, creating a backdrop for Endeavour that creates the illusion of being outside. The diagrid is a structural framework of diagonally intersecting steel beams used to construct buildings with complex geometries. This solution allows for a clear volume with no columns to obstruct the view of space shuttle Endeavour—a feat of engineering that creates a dramatic, immersive viewing experience for museum visitors. At its maximum, the cone of the structural steel diagrid is 150 feet wide (east-west) and 232 feet long (north-south), and 150 feet tall (on top of a 50-foot wall). The diagrid steel weighs approximately 2 million pounds.
Design/Construction Team:
Architect: ZGF
General Contractor: MATT Construction
Engineers: Arup
Steel Fabricator: Plas-Tal Manufacturing
Exhibit Design: Evidence Design
