Falsework in place for LACMA's Wilshire-spanning David Geffen Galleries

If you've been traveling down Wilshire Boulevard through the Miracle Mile lately, you may have noticed some changes at the LACMA campus.

As first reported by the Beverly Press, falsework now spans across Wilshire at the site of LACMA's $750-million revamp, which replaced the museum's older William Pereira and Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer-designed buildings. The metal structures, which will temporarily support the new structure bridging across Wilshire, are to be fully installed by the end of January.

LACMA's new facility, designed by Peter Zumthor, is to consist of a two-story building featuring approximately 350,000 square feet of exhibition and support space. The new wing will be named the "David Geffen Galleries," after the DreamWorks founder, who is one of the project's principal donors.

The museum, which announced in October that construction was 50 percent complete, is set to complete the new building in 2024.

While the project has enjoyed the support of local elected officials, the Zumthor revamp has been criticized for its cost. Originally pitched as a $650-million project, the total budget had swelled to $750 million by the time of its groundbreaking. However, a report which cited internal communications between Los Angeles County officials warned that the end cost could run as high as $900 million. To date, the museum has announced $700 million in total fundraising for the Geffen Galleries.

Likewise, the project has faced pushback from many in the architecture and preservation community due to the controversial decision to raze its older buildings - particularly its original Pereira-designed structure. Furthermore, the Zumthor plan will result in a reduced footprint relative to the buildings it replaces.

LACMA's overhaul is one of the most visible signs of change on the Mid-Wilshire corridor, which has recently seen the completion of the $388-million Academy Museum of Motion Pictures at Wilshire and Fairfax Avenue, and may soon welcome a revamped a new master La Brea Tar Pits and George C. Page Museum under a new master plan from Weiss/Manfredi. Likewise, construction continues for the extension of Metro's D Line subway, which will have a stop at Wilshire and Fairfax.

• LACMA (Urbanize LA)