Los Angeles is getting a first look at the future of its most iconic hilltop landmark. The Getty Center just released preliminary design details and renderings for its massive, campus-wide overhaul.
Marking the biggest modernization initiative since the campus first opened in 1997, this sweeping transformation, with an estimated cost of $600 million to $800 million according to the LA Times, is designed to completely reinvent the visitor experience just in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
About the Getty Center’s modernization
To pull off this historic upgrade, the Getty Center will temporarily close to the public in 2027, with a grand reopening slated for spring 2028.
If you want a sneak peek at how one of L.A.’s favorite museums is preparing for the world stage, here are the new details revealed in the fresh renderings.
- A Gehry Partners-Designed Entrance: The legendary firm Gehry Partners is designing a makeover for the lower tram station. Renderings show a stunning new green space, an elegant overhead canopy, and a sheltered structural stairway. This modern entrance will be perfected with beautiful landscaping design by OLIN.
- The Futuristic New Tram Interior: Built by Doppelmayr, the iconic hover-tram is getting a sleek, high-capacity replacement. The new interior rendering reveals an ultra-modern, spacious layout designed to carry 400 more passengers per hour to drastically cut down wait times, (jumping from 1,200 to 1,600 visitors per hour).
- A Reimagined Welcome Hall by Why Architecture: Once you reach the top of the hill, the entry rotunda will look completely different. The Welcome Hall will feature a state-of-the-art café bookstore and an expanded retail hub.
Crucial dates and timeline
The museum chose a full, one-year closure to get the heavy construction done safely and efficiently.
- March 15, 2027: The official one-year public closure begins.
- Spring 2028: The Grand Reopening ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics.
However, the Getty isn’t going dark while the center gets its historic modernization. You will be able to visit the Getty Villa, as it will remain open throughout the operations. Additionally, work with partners across the world will continue.
Nearly 30 years after changing the L.A. cultural landscape, the Getty Center is taking a bold leap into the future. While we will certainly miss it in its one-year hiatus, these new renderings prove that the resulting world-class campus will be worth the wait.