Petersen Automotive Museum: Innovation and Renovation

Source: prnewswire.com

Petersen Automotive Museum: Innovation and Renovation

by SweisKloss
July 30, 2020

There is plenty to sightsee in the city of Los Angeles. After living here for most of my life, one would think that I’ve grown accustomed to all the creative explorations in architecture, construction and design, but I am still intrigued every time I see something new. I distinctly remember the day I drove down Miracle Mile after the renovation of the Petersen Automotive Museum. The new façade of bright red and shining metal was so head turning that I would have gotten into a car accident had I continued looking. The irony would not have been lost on me. What once was built as a department store in 1962 and designed by Welton Becket, the building would go through a couple iterations before becoming the Petersen Automotive Museum in 1994 then would undergo a multi-million-dollar renovation from 2013-2015. The international architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) designed the exterior, and The Scenic Route was in charge of updating the interiors. The construction is a feat of engineering, and the design has movement and fluidity that makes sense for an auto museum. The structure is wrapped in a total of 308 metal ribbons, each with a unique curvature. The surfaces are made of stainless steel and textured aluminum that is coated in an eye-catching red paint. There are 25 vertical tubular steel supports and horizontal beams supporting the façade. And 866 individually controlled LED fixtures illuminate the exterior. In no way would someone not notice the Petersen when passing by. As with most museums, the Petersen is closed during this Covid-19 pandemic. However, starting August 1, they are having a free online event: Car Week. The museum is calling it the largest automotive event online with 25+ hours of exclusive content (vehicle debuts, online auctions, virtual car shows, etc.) from the world’s leading auto brands—a virtual heaven for auto enthusiasts. In addition to their Car Week event, Petersen Automotive Museum has live-streamed videos and educational online activities for kids. For more info, go to https://www.petersen.org/