Layers of Transparency and Functionality: The Steel and Glass Grid Shell at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures [A6]

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is the latest addition to the Museum District in Los Angeles. The centerpiece of Renzo Piano's design is a 150-ft wide steel and glass dome with pre-tensioned cross bracing, hovering seemingly weightless above the concrete theater of the museum.

This session will describe in detail the steps taken to realize the grid shell structure, from the first sketches to construction, and decisions made in the design, engineering, and installation phases. We will discuss the inherent relationship between form and forces, but specifically the incorporation of building technology and functionality in the design.

Track: Students, Architecture

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