Autry National Center Selects Levin & Associates to Design Expanded Museum in Griffith Park April 05, 2007 Environmentally-grounded national center will combine Southwest Museum and Museum of the American West collections under one roof. Los Angeles (March 20, 2007) -- Brenda Levin, FAIA, the renowned architect who recently completed the renovation and expansion of Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, has been selected by the Autry National Center's Board of Trustees to be the design architect for the expansion and modernization of the Center's facility in Griffith Park. Principally, the expansion plan will be designed to accommodate the addition of the world-class collection of 250,000 Native American artifacts from the Southwest Museum of the American Indian in Mt. Washington. The Southwest site cannot provide the museum-standard exhibition and storage facilities necessary to house a collection of this size and importance. Storing and exhibiting that collection alongside the more contemporary collection from the existing Museum of the American West in Griffith Park, the Autry is creating a true national center for the study and celebration of the American West under one roof. Levin's plans will more than double the Autry's total amount of exhibition and gallery space and employ a "museum-inside-out" design, with visible storage and staff areas to reveal the inner workings of the museum and place the greatest amount of the collections on display. The expansion is designed to fit into the Autry's existing footprint at Griffith Park. Founder of Levin & Associates, Levin is known for both their historic preservation and adaptive re-use work and new educational and cultural buildings. Among their signature projects are the Bradbury and Oviatt buildings, Los Angeles City Hall, the Boone Gallery at the Huntington, the UC Santa Barbara Art Museum, and the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy at the Japanese National Museum. The Autry is currently in the middle of a substantial preservation project to conserve and protect the collection of American Indian artifacts and rehabilitate the landmark Southwest Museum building for cultural and educational uses. "We are truly fortunate to have Brenda Levin leading the design of the Griffith Park project," said John L. Gray, President and CEO of the Autry National Center. "Brenda has a deep understanding of the diverse experiences, collections and creativity that signify the West, and will create an inspirational new home for the Native American artifacts of the Southwest Museum to be displayed alongside the more modern collection from the Museum of the American West. She has exhibited tremendous creativity and sensitivity as the restoration architect for the Southwest Museum in Mt. Washington, and we look forward to her leadership in designing a wonderful treasure for Los Angeles at our campus in Griffith Park." "We are looking forward to creating a dynamic space, informed by the landscape of the West grounded in the park and inspired by the exhibitions and programs," said Brenda Levin. "It will be an exciting and important addition to Los Angeles' cultural realm. Levin was initially the design architect for Convergence Hall, the entryway to the new Center, which will showcase the diverse cultures and interrelated stories of the American West in grand exhibition cases extending the length of the expansive gallery. In her expanded role, she will continue to work with the project team including George Sexton along with C+G Partners for exhibition design, Walter Hood for landscape architecture, Morley Construction, and Doug Gardner and Elaine Nesbit as project managers. House & Robertson has been selected as Executive Architect for the project. # # # Link: Autry National Center website Education | Arts & Culture | Civic & Social | Urban Revitalization About Levin & Associates | News | Home