The Glorya Kaufman Creative Community Center, the centerpiece of the Wende Museum's expansion in Culver City, has reached its peak.

View of Wende Museum expansion from parking entryAUX Architecture

AUX Architecture and Shawmut Design and Construction announced that the new three-story building at 10858 Culver Boulevard held its topping off ceremony on August 5. The placement of the final beam is a key milestone for the new 7,000-square-foot building, which will be a multi-purpose space house a live performance theater, art spaces, a garden, and room for local public school students. Organizations including the Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum, United States Veterans’ Artist Alliance, Upward Bound House, and the Artistic Freedom Initiative will share the facility.

“Only a few years ago, this was an abandoned community space with good bones, but without the vision or capacity required to transform it into something better," said Wende Museum executive director Justin Jampol in a news release. "That all changed the moment when Glorya Kaufman saw the ‘diamond in the rough’ next door. For her, this was a space to be reimagined, and brought back to life for the benefit of all. That moment changed the story of the Wende forever. We are now on the verge of introducing this new community resource to the world.”

Construction of the Wende Museum community centerAUX Architecture

AUX Architecture is designing the building, which is shown in renderings with a contemporary look and  an exterior of painted stucco, concrete, and aluminum. Plans also call for a series of terrace decks.

Glorya Kaufman, the widow of KB Home co-founder Donald Kaufman, was is supporting the project through her foundation, which has given money to a number of arts-related causes in Los Angeles - including a new theater at the Hollywood Arts Collective.

Completion of the Glorya Kaufman Creative Community Center is expected in early 2024.

Topping off ceremonyAUX Architecture

The new building is the first component of the Wende Museum's expansion, but not the last. Plans approved by Culver City officials also call for converting part of the property's community garden into six apartments which would be set aside for low-income, homeless artist residents.

Follow us on social media: 

Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Threads / Instagram