Renzo Piano, the author of this plan, was forced to remove the glass entrance pavilion of the building, reminiscent of No. 8 from Charles Eames's famous Case Study Houses. Instead, an open "gazebo" of steel orange trusses with a ceiling made of solar panels will appear in front of the museum. The new facility, somewhat reminiscent of a gas station, is sponsored by oil giant BP, which has allocated $ 25 million for its construction. The name of this company will now appear on the main façade of the pavilion. The original design of the lobby was to bear the names of Linda and Stuart Resnikov, who donated funds for its construction. According to the new plan, this money will go to a new one-story gallery, belonging to the second, more distant in time, stage of reconstruction.
A last-minute switch from one project to another saved $ 2.5 million. But this is not the main reason for this decision: according to the recently changed management of the museum, the terrace pavilion, exposed to sunlight, will provide an opportunity for visitors to get acquainted with works of art in natural light, as well as take advantage of the wonderful California climate. In front of its façade, Jeff Koons' giant installation The Train (a 20m locomotive hanging from a 50m crane) will be installed.
The first phase of the LACMA reconstruction with a budget of 156 million dollars should be completed in February 2008. In addition to the construction of a new lobby, it includes the creation of a new, enlarged park, refurbishment of the facade, construction of two new museum buildings and a garage.
