Griffith Observatory

Los Angeles, California
United States

Visited by nearly two million people annually, the Griffith Observatory is the only institution in California with a science museum, a major public planetarium, and a public telescope. The historic renovation included the restoration of Observatory’s Art Deco façade, exterior circulation, signage, monuments, and murals. The building was raised on hydraulic lifts in order to excavate the underneath to create the expansion space, including a 200-seat theater, café, bookstore, and exhibition areas.

Historic fixtures were refurbished with energy efficient sources and film was added to lenses to eliminate existing lamp imaging issues. The façade was articulated with illumination that accentuates the exposed structural “bones” giving the Observatory a unique prominence in the Los Angeles skyline. In the interior spaces, additional layers of light were added to enhance exhibit niches using hidden contemporary fixtures.