Press Release

ARCHITECTURAL FACT SHEET
JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM PHASE II PAVILION

 

Location

Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California

 

Architect	Gyo Obata
	Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, Inc.

 

Groundbreaking	Dedication February 10, 1996
Project Cost	$22 million
Project Description	The new Pavilion represents an important milestone in the growth and development of the Japanese American National Museum. Amongst the first of a new generation of museum facilities, the Pavilion provides cutting-edge technology and the planning flexibility that will allow the Museum to expand current programs and develop and create new programs for the next millennium. Designed to create a strong new architectural image for the Museum, the Pavilion respects and honors its past while looking to the future. It establishes a dialogue with the existing historic building, which is on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks and is the Museum's largest artifact. The Pavilion also compliments and enhances its historic urban context, reinforcing the Museum's role in the community.   The 84,000 square feet of new space greatly expands the Museum's capacity, both in physical terms and in the state-of-the-art technologies it provides. At the heart of the building lies the collections/archival storage and National Resource Center, enabling visitors to access a wealth of materials from within the structure or electronically from around the globe. The collection is rich and diverse, ranging from oral histories, photographs and documents to three-dimensional objects, works of art and moving images. Built around this "heart" are the exhibit and program spaces, as well as the public and support elements of the Museum.

Pavilion Features

National Resource center-- This two-story space located at the heart of the building allows public access to the Museum's collections. It includes an Archival Viewing Room and a mezzanine with audio-visual equipment and carrels. In the atrium of the NRC, Museum visitors may browse through books and periodicals, explore the thematic workstations and examine the Museum microfilm resources. Exhibition space-- More than 18,000 square feet of new exhibition space is provided in the Pavilion. Both sky-lighted and contemporary "white box" galleries without natural daylight are provided, providing variety and flexibility for exhibition installations. Complementing the galleries are an outdoor terrace and an orientation theater. Life History Studio -- Adjacent to the NRC, this comfortable studio will be used to record the life histories of families and individuals. Education Centers -- Two education centers will meet the growing demand for the Museum's multi-faceted educational and public outreach programs. These are supported by educational offices, meeting rooms and various supply storage spaces. Central Hall-- This large, two-story space for temporary exhibits, lectures and special events is immediately adjacent to the Lobby. A catering kitchen provides banquet capabilities. The Central Hall also is equipped with audio-visual capabilities, including two large screen video displays, lighting and sound systems. Central Plaza -- This area extends the space of the Central Hall, linking the Pavilion with the existing historic building and providing an outdoor room for large gatherings and festivities. With the historic facade as a backdrop, the stepped podium of the Pavilion also functions as an informal amphitheater. Stone and Water Garden -- Designed by landscape designer Robert Murase, this garden provides a place for contemplation and reflection. It is anchored by the Museum Store and the Garden Cafe. Support Spaces -- Museum programs and staff will benefit from the addition of specially designed and equipped support spaces, such as a multimedia production center with a sound-edit bay and darkroom, an exhibition design studio and fabrication shop, and special facilities for curators and Museum volunteers

 

Site Description

The site marks the northeastern edge of the Little Tokyo Historic District in Los Angeles, where the geometry of the city grid adjusts to meet the LA River, The site is in the shape of a parallelogram approximately two hundred feet by three hundred feet in length, and covers approximately 1.5 acres. It is bounded on the east by Alameda Street and on the south by First Street. To the west, Central Avenue is captured and re-paved to create an urban plaza between the Pavilion and the existing historic building. In this way, the Pavilion anchors the eastern end of the historic First Street block. This plaza completes the pedestrian link from the Geffen Temporary Contemporary Museum immediately north of the site and the government center beyond with the Japanese Village Plaza to the southwest.

 

Dimensions	Building Area:	Museum space on two levels	83,836 SF
		Below-grade parking	54,173 SF
		Total Building Area	138,009 SF
	Outdoor Areas:	Level Two Terraces	1,322 SF
		Garden	3,600 SF
		Central Plaza	25,900 SF
		Total Outdoor Area	30,822 SF
	Exhibition Galleries		18,360 SF
	Central Hall		4,111 SF
	Orientation Theater		700 SF
	National Resource Center		3,365 SF
	Museum Store:		1,158 SF
	Garden Cafe:		1,000 SF
	Classrooms (2):		1,685 SF

 

Materials

The Pavilion uses a rich vocabulary of exterior and interior building material to express the Japanese reverence for materials and craftsmanship, at the same time creating forms that are bold and contemporary and reflect in an abstract way the rich urban context. Time-honored materials such as stone and wood, are contrasted with state-of-the-art materials including high- performance glazing and perforated stainless steel. Major cladding and paving materials include yellow Italian granite in honed, flamed and sandblasted finishes at the Central Hall wall. This stone is similar in color and texture to the upper portions of the existing Museum building. Cleft finished, red Indian sandstone on the First Street wall by the garden and cafe match the height and color of the brick coursing of the existing historic building and maintain the street facade along the street. High-performance tinted and laminated glass encloses the Central Hall and south galleries, and a screen of perforated stainless steel protects the south galleries from harmful ultraviolet rays while allowing views of the garden and Little Tokyo beyond. Both the glass and the stainless steel convey a sense of openness and transparency to balance the solidity of the stone walls. Other materials featured Include purple Indian sandstone In the National Resource Center, cherry and lacewood veneers in the millwork and multi-colored terrazzo and end-grain wood flooring. The site's existing sierra granite curbs were retained and reused in the Garden along with Carnelian granite from Minnesota and Arizona flagstone. Consistent with this vocabulary of materials, attention to detail and the grass roots beginnings of this institution, donation opportunities have been designed as an integral part of the building and the materials themselves. Etched glass, engraved stone and metal panels throughout the building recognize the generosity of Individuals, groups and corporations as the very foundation upon which the Museum is built.

 

Associate Architect	O'Leary, Terasawa Partners
Project Leadership	Japanese American National Museum (JANM): Irene Y. Hirano Executive Director & President Yoshihiro Uchida Chairman, Board of Trustees Robert Volk Chairman, Facilities Committee
General Contractor	Ray Wilson Company
Project Team	Gyo Obata Co-Chairman Hellmuth,Obata and Kassabaum Tak Shida Principal O'Leary, Terasawa Partners (OTA) Jim Fair Principal (HOK) Paul Nagashima Project Designer (HOK) Doug Fisher Project Manager (HOK) Herb Yuki Project Architect (OTA) Gall Furuta Interior Designer (HOK) Team members: David Sakaguchi (OTA) Larry Tanaguchi (OTA) Sky Kogachl (HOK) Tim Spence (HOK) Jim Surwillo (JANM) Nancy Araki (JANM)
Consultants	Structural and Civil Engineering: KPFF Consulting Engineers Jeff Asher, Principal (Structural) John Gavan, Principal (Structural) Reza Vasseti (Structural) Torn Gsell (Civil)
	Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing: Hayakawa Associates Aklra Hiruma, Principal Jonathan Mitsumori (Electrical) Chatchai Chantawansri (Mechanical) Gabriella Toma (Plumbing)
Landscape:	EDAW, Inc. William Schultz, Principal Ann Cutner, Project Manager Trent NolI, Project Designer
Garden Design:	Robert Murase Associates Robert Murase, Principal Alan Johnson, Sr. Associate
Graphic Design:	Kiku Obata and Company Kiku Obata, Principal Nao Etsuki Arden Launius
Lighting Design:	Hortin, Lees Lighting Design, Inc. Teal Brogden, Principal Alexis Friend, Project Designer
Acoustics/A.V.:	Martin Newson and Associates Martin Newson, Principal Neil Shaw
Security/Tele-Communications:	The Schatz Consulting Group Brett Schatz, Principal
Code/Life Safety:	Schirmer Engineering Corporation Ed Fixen
Cost Estimator:	Adamson Associates Nicolas Butcher
Contractor:	Ray Wilson Company: K.C. Gopal, President Eric Wilson, Vice President; Jun Eguia, Project Manager Phil Hoffman, Superintendent Richard Sheppard