Latest news with #ZGF
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Orbital slides, space shuttle at Exposition Park are almost ready for a big reveal
Along with the stars on Hollywood Boulevard and the Universal Studios theme park, a new celestial attraction is set to debut in Los Angeles. The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at Exposition Park is expected to complete construction this year, according to its architects, only three years after the first shovels broke ground. That would make the center ready in time for when Los Angeles hosts visitors from around the world to see the 2026 World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympics. One of the aspects that makes this place special is its showcase, the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The spacecraft stands in a stack position, meaning it's standing — complete with boosters and a rare fuel tank — as if it were ready to launch. It's the only shuttle in the nation to feature such a feat. Jeffrey N. Rudolph, president and chief executive of the California Science Center, and Ted Hyman, partner at architectural firm ZGF, which designed the air and space center, recently shared updates with The Times, including news of an exclusive partnership with director/producer J.J. Abrams' production company Bad Robot. That silver cylindrical colossus that is easily seen from the freeway houses the stacked space shuttle. The Endeavour was meticulously placed there in January 2024 as much of the museum was built around it. As for the 20-story diagrid, or shuttle housing building, the museum's construction crew is about 80% finished wrapping a stainless-steel skin exterior around the shuttle, according to an estimate from Mark Piaia, a ZGF project architect. The shiny view comes courtesy of 4,247 panels and 1,074 diagonal strips that would stand 7,862 feet tall if lined up. Rudolph said building construction is expected to be completed this year. He would not provide an official opening day but noted that artifact and exhibit installations would still need to be completed. The museum is expected to house about 20 planes and jets, including a Boeing 747. There are also plans for a 45-foot slide that imitates the feeling of entering the atmosphere with a radiating orange glow, two sonic booms and the 'S' turns a shuttle would make upon reentry. Rudolph was excited about what he's calling 'the reveal.' He exclusively told The Times that a pair of introductory films are being produced by directing/producing titan J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot. That's the same production company responsible for some of the latest 'Star Wars' and 'Mission:Impossible' movies. The first film will greet visitors as they walk into the museum and will focus on the entire air and space exhibits. The second will screen at a mini theater at the entrance to the space shuttle exhibit. It is a five-minute film that focuses on the history and inspiration behind the space shuttle. The film ends with a simulated launch, during which steam rises from the floor and through hallway doors and fills the theater. As the steam impairs a guest's vision, the screen is removed and visitors get a surprise: a full, 'envelope' view of the stacked 20-story space shuttle. 'It is an amazing experience and we want to really build it up,' Rudolph said. 'It's not just about the hardware, but about the people and the educational aspects.' The delicate nature of the shuttle makes that impossible. 'There's no way,' Rudolph said. 'The hatch is very small and it's very fragile.' There is, however, a mock-up of the flight deck — an area designed to carry cargo — that visitors can toy with to get a feel that only shuttle astronauts once got. We'll continue to follow the progress of the air and space museum as we head toward opening day. Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team Jim Rainey, staff writerDiamy Wang, homepage internIzzy Nunes, audience internKevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew J. Campa, reporterKarim Doumar, head of newsletters How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
The Independent
01-07-2025
- The Independent
The six most beautiful airports in the world for 2025 have been revealed — and two are in the US
They're the airports with designs born from soaring imaginations, six hubs that according to a prestigious architecture award are the most eye-catching on the planet. And two are in the US. Portland International Airport Main Terminal and San Francisco International Airport Terminal 1 both make the Unesco Prix Versailles competition's World's Most Beautiful Airports List 2025. The judges describe Portland's new Main Terminal, designed by Oregon's ZGF, as "spectacular". They explain that the terminal was "inspired by walks in the forest, resulting in a calming, immersive experience for travelers". They continue: "The star of the project is its undulating mass timber roof, extending over more than 387,500ft, which celebrates Oregon's history of forest product innovation." It's explained that the materials employed were sourced from local industry within a 310-mile radius of the airport, with a "forest to frame" system created to track as much of the wood as possible back to its forest of origin. Prix Versailles adds: "The spectacularly scaled structure promotes access to natural light and views of the forested landscape. A resplendently staged renovation that is both sustainable and functional." San Francisco Airport's new Terminal 1, meanwhile, is described as a "soothing, restorative setting for travelers", with "soft natural light filtering through to entry level" and "architecture that unfurls in a celebration of arts and crafts that reflect the unique character of the Bay Area". Prix Versailles adds: "In fact, the airport is becoming a real cultural destination with the SFO Museum, the world's only accredited museum at an airport, allowing more robust exhibits and art to be shared throughout the terminals." Also making the list is Kansai International Airport Terminal 1 in Osaka, Japan. Originally designed 30 years ago by Renzo Piano on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay, its interior spaces have now been "reinvigorated" and a smart queue management system installed. The judges add: "The terminal's successful reopening, in time for the 2025 World Expo, honours the history of an extraordinary site." Marseille Provence Airport Terminal 1, designed by Foster + Partners, also makes the cut thanks to an extension comprising a window-lined hall with a grid of skylights that "conveys peace and relaxation". Prix Versailles adds: "Glass façades provide for maximum transparency, with views of Provençal hinterland on the one side and a maritime lagoon on the other, in a wonderful blend of hospitality and style." The other two airports on the list are Yantai Penglai International Airport Terminal 2 in China, where "natural light permeates the entire terminal", and Roland Garros Airport Arrivals Terminal on Reunion Island. This "tropical bioclimatic airport" has a central "canyon" that acts as a thermal chimney, louvred shutters connected to sensors that adjust their angles in response to changing weather conditions and an interior that's a "sensory journey" for travelers thanks to "extensive use of wood and native vegetation in a living expression of the island's landscape and culture". The Secretary General of the Prix Versailles, Jérôme Gouadain, emphasises the footprint of these new projects: "The mark left by airports stems chiefly from their ever-growing role in international exchanges. As a result, this infrastructure must resolve formidable difficulties in terms of flow management and the aircraft themselves. "But this new brand of facilities can also be seen as works of art, or at least as things of beauty. In fact, we should strive to make this happen, given their inescapability in our built environments and our landscapes. "Orientated towards operational, ecological and aesthetic excellence, these hubs also convey shared values, culture or even a tribute to the past, out of respect for the legacies left behind by earlier generations. In the light of the planetary challenges facing us today, it is time for these expressive images of our contemporary heritage to be asserted as symbols of humankind's internal dialogue."
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Portland's Lan Su Chinese Garden begins ‘new chapter' with Old Town expansion
PORTLAND, Ore. () – Celebrating its 25th year in the Rose City, Lan Su Chinese Garden announced plans to expand in the Old Town neighborhood. The expansion will take place on a neighboring lot on Portland's Block 24, between Northwest Flanders and Glisan Streets featuring new classrooms, meeting rooms, an art gallery, demonstration kitchen and performance spaces. Lan Su also unveiled plans for outdoor spaces with plazas and greenhouses. Lan Su said the expansion will increase their cultural footprint and community programming for generations to come. 'Just as the opening of Lan Su transformed Old Town nearly 25 years ago, we believe this expansion will transform how we serve the community for generations to come,' said Lan Su Executive Director Elizabeth Nye. 'This expansion would allow us to welcome more visitors, host larger school groups and create exhibition spaces showcasing the richness of Chinese culture and the (Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander) experience,' Nye continued. Project Pabst unveils lineup for second year since its return to Portland Lan Su is working with an architectural team, including Gene Sandoval of ZGF, who recently completed Portland International Airport's redesign. While project planning is underway, Lan Su has started a public/private capital campaign to fundraise for the project. The expansion plans come as Lan Su Chinese Garden sees more than 100,000 visitors every year and partners with over 200 individuals and community organizations for cultural events. 'Lan Su has always been more than just a garden,' Nye said. 'It is a gathering place for a thriving community—a space where stories are shared, connections are made, and culture is celebrated. And now, we stand at the threshold of an exciting new chapter: a time of expansion.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
