\u00a0<\/p>\n
Construction continues to surge ahead at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art<\/strong><\/a> in Los Angeles\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> Exposition Park, as the MAD<\/strong><\/a>-designed landmark prepares to open its doors in 2026. Envisioned by filmmaker George Lucas, who also serves as the museum\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> curator, this futuristic civic space is shaped like a sculptural canopy, hovering lightly above a revitalized, pedestrian-friendly parkland.\u00a0<\/p>\n all images by LA TIMES<\/a> \u2013 Chun Myung<\/a> & Jason Armond<\/a>, via MAD<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Led by Ma Yansong, the team<\/strong><\/a> at MAD replaces right angles with fluid, organic geometries in the Lucas Museum\u2019s design, shaping its sculptural form with over 1,500 uniquely molded fiberglass-reinforced polymer (FRP) panels. As it arches across the site with cloud-like massing and deep cantilevers, the building contrasts with its more conventional neighbors in Exposition Park. A 56-meter-long central archway spans a public plaza and forms the entry point of the museum, while above it, a four-story elliptical oculus cuts through the volume and gallery spaces, visually linking the park and sky.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In many ways, the Los Angeles museum<\/strong><\/a> seems to levitate, with its form touching the ground at just a few strategic points, allowing for openness and lightness despite its massive scale. This illusion of floating is engineered with seismic resilience in mind, with one meter of lateral space allowing it to \u2018roll\u2019 during an earthquake, what the former CEO of the museum, Sandra Jackson-Dumont, once described as \u2018a giant roller skate\u2019 built for the realities of LA\u2019s tectonic landscape.<\/p>\n construction nears completion at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Surrounding the museum, landscape architect Mia Lehrer is transforming what was once a sea of parking lots into a shaded public oasis, planting over 200 trees and creating a green, walkable environment. This shift from car-dominant infrastructure to community-oriented parkland aligns with the museum\u2019s broader mission to be a place for people, not just artifacts.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Inside, the programming reflects this same democratic spirit. Beyond galleries spanning 8,361 square meters, the museum will house two state-of-the-art theaters, ten education studios, a library, a restaurant, a museum shop, and even a rooftop event space beneath its ribbed \u2018cloud\u2019 ceiling.<\/p>\n the MAD-designed landmark prepares to open its doors in 2026<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Lucas Museum is built around the idea of storytelling as a global cultural force. The collection spans everything from Norman Rockwell\u2019s illustrations to Frida Kahlo\u2019s iconic work, alongside film models, props, and concept art from the Star Wars creator\u2019s own archive. With this expansive approach to narrative art, the museum positions itself as a one-of-a-kind institution dedicated to visual storytelling across cultures and media.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Sandra Jackson-Dumont, who has been overseeing the museum\u2019s development for the past five years, left her post in April 2025 following the introduction of a new organizational structure. The change splits the roles of director and CEO; Lucas steers the museum\u2019s artistic content, while former Paramount and Fox CEO Jim Gianopulos serves as interim CEO.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As Los Angeles grows and reshapes its identity as a global center for arts and culture, the Lucas Museum wants to be an everyday destination in the heart of South LA, where people can gather, learn, and connect.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n the building contrasts with its more conventional neighbors in Exposition Park<\/p>\n MAD replaces right angles with fluid, organic geometries<\/p>\n the building hovers lightly above a revitalized, pedestrian-friendly parkland<\/p>\n landscape architect Mia Lehrer is transforming what was once a sea of parking lots into a shaded public oasis<\/p>\n a green, walkable environment planted with over 200 trees<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n project title:\u00a0<\/strong>Lucas Museum of Narrative Art<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0@lucasmuseum<\/a><\/p>\n architecture:\u00a0<\/strong>MAD architects<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0@madarchitects<\/a><\/p>\n location:<\/strong>\u00a0Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California<\/p>\n previous coverage:<\/strong>\u00a0March 2018<\/a>,\u00a0February 2020<\/a>,\u00a0September 2022<\/a>, March 2024<\/a>, March 2025<\/a><\/p>\n photography:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a9 Roberto Gomez, Sand Hill Media\/Eric Furie<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n MAD Architects team:<\/strong>\u00a0Ma Yansong (founder, principal partner), Lu Junliang (Dixon) (associate partner), Lee Flora (associate partner) MAD Architects partners:<\/strong>\u00a0Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano<\/p>\n competition and design team:<\/strong>\u00a0Kin Li, Tiffany Dahlen, Daniel Weber, Jordan Kanter, Daniel Gillen, Wu Kaicong, Zhao Wei, Flora Lee, Jonathan Kontuly, Carmen Carrasco, Jacob Hu, Satoko Narishige, Zhu Yuhao, Casey Kell, Matthew Pugh, Kazushi Miyamoto, Ben Yuqiang, Hiroki Fujino, Chris Nolop, Kek Seow, Younjin Park, Brecht Van Acker, Andrea D\u2019antrassi, Zhang Yiran, Pouya Goshayeshi, Dora Lam, Victor Tung, Steven Park Chaffer, Sean Tan, Sheenam Mujoo, Dookee Chung, Cesar D. Pena Del Rey, Valeria Pestereva, Wang Yiqi, Dmitry Seregin, Lin Yuyang, Che-hung Chien, Zhang Lu, Zeng Hao, Young Koo Kang, Shen Han<\/p>\n The post MAD\u2019s lucas museum of narrative art in los angeles nears completion for 2026 debut<\/a> appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" mad\u2019s Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in los angeles takes shape \u00a0 Construction continues to surge ahead at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles\u2019s Exposition Park, as the MAD-designed landmark prepares to … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[142],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\na floating landmark<\/h2>\n
Mia Lehrer creates an urban public oasis<\/h2>\n
storytelling across media drives the institution\u2019s evolving vision<\/h2>\n
\nproject info:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\narchitect of record:<\/strong>\u00a0Stantec<\/a>\u00a0(Michael Siegel) |\u00a0@stantec<\/a>
\nlandscape architect:<\/strong>\u00a0Studio-MLA<\/a>\u00a0(Mia Lehrer) |\u00a0@studio_mla<\/a>
\nconstruction manager:<\/strong>\u00a0JLL (Cory Langer, Dustin Worland)
\ngeneral contractor:<\/strong>\u00a0Hathaway Dinwiddie (Rick Cridland)
\nstructural engineer:<\/strong>\u00a0LERA
\nmechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire life safety:<\/strong>\u00a0Alfa Tech<\/p>\n