The $75-million expansion of the L.A. County Museum of Natural History is set to makes its debut on November 17, the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) announced yesterday.

The new wing, designed by architecture firm Frederick Fisher & Partners, features a transparent glass facade, allowing passersby to see into the museum and better connect it with the surroundings of Exposition Park. The interior, designed by Studio Joseph, also includes the 400-seat Commons Theater, a new cafe, and the Judith Perlstein Welcome Center.

Rendering of landscape design for NHM Commons with a row of planting, shade trees, and stone benches facing Exposition Park’s South LawnNatural History Museums of Los Angeles County

“It’s exciting to look ahead to opening NHM Commons this November when we will welcome everyone to connect with our research and collections and enjoy special indoor and outdoor experiences in this new destination for Exposition Park,” said NHMLAC president and director Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga in a news release. “We are grateful to our advisory groups and community partners for collaborating with us to envision innovative ways we can continue to be a resource for our community. We can’t wait to share some of what Angelenos and our visitors from around the world will see as we open new doors to experiencing natural history, community science, and culture.”

Previous announced features within the new Judith Perlstein Welcome Center will be Barbara Carrasco’s 1981 mural LA History: A Mexican Perspective and the 75-foot dinosaur skeleton Gnatalie, which is composed of multiple specimens belonging to a Diplodocus-like dinosaur and has distinctive green color. New additions revealed yesterday include a 3,000-square-foot theater gallery devoted to "Collective Knowledge,"' which displays images taken by photographers Craig Cutler and Scott Bremmer, a new 3D T.rex film produced by D3D, and a display which spotlights the contribution of community scientists.

Outside of the building itself, Studio-MLA has designed a new plaza as part of NHM Commons, which will provide outdoor gathering space for visitors to Exposition Park and the museum.

NHM Commons Judith Perlstein Welcome Center, looking westNatural History Museums of Los Angeles County

The project has been supported by a more $100-million fundraising campaign, has received contributions from the Los Angeles County, the State of California, the Annenberg Foundation, the Ahmanson Foundation, Ron Perlstein, the Rose Hills Foundation, the W.M Keck Foundation, and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation.

The debut of NHM Commons will be a prelude to even bigger additions to Exposition Park in the coming years, such as the $1-billion Lucas Museum of Narrative Art taking shape across Bill Robertson Lane and the $400-million Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.

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