The challenge begins with scale. Not the scale of a building programme, but of the object it must contain. At the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, designed by ZGF Architects, the architecture is defined by a requirement that exceeds conventional museum parameters. It must accommodate a complete space shuttle system, displayed vertically as if ready for launch, within a single volume.
With construction now complete, the project marks a new phase in a long-running transformation of the California Science Center. The building extends the institution’s footprint through three multi-level galleries and introduces a new architectural identity shaped by the demands of aerospace-scale exhibition.
Designing around a vertical shuttle system
At the centre of the building is the Shuttle Gallery, rising 200ft to accommodate the full height of the space shuttle Endeavour in its stacked launch configuration. The requirement to display the shuttle in this orientation establishes the project’s primary spatial condition. The gallery is organised as a singular vertical chamber, with the shuttle positioned at its centre and circulation arranged around its perimeter. Tiered viewing levels allow the full height of the stack to be read from multiple vantage points, shifting the experience from horizontal movement to an upward understanding of scale.
The enclosing volume is defined by a faceted structural shell that remains visible within the interior, giving the space a constructed, geometric character rather than a neutral enclosure. Within this larger volume, a secondary vertical framework provides access and viewing platforms alongside the shuttle, introducing a layered spatial system that mediates between the object and the surrounding space.
The building is organised into three primary zones, with dedicated air and space galleries positioned alongside the Shuttle Gallery. This programme structure reinforces the central role of the shuttle while distributing complementary exhibition spaces around it, aligning the overall layout with both educational and spatial priorities.
Constructing around an installed shuttle
The scale of the exhibit also shaped the sequence of construction. The shuttle stack was installed while the building remained partially complete, requiring temporary protection systems to safeguard the structure during construction. Above it, the roof structure was assembled with a diagrid system that required strategic temporary bracing until it could support itself.
This sequence reflects the extent to which the building is not only designed around the shuttle but constructed in direct response to its presence. The enclosure, structure and installation process operate as interdependent components rather than sequential stages.
Translating aerospace scale into architectural form
The external expression of the building draws directly from the geometry of the shuttle it houses. A curvilinear form, clad in stainless steel, reflects the aerodynamic characteristics of the shuttle’s fuselage, wings and stabiliser. Rather than presenting as a series of discrete façades, the building reads as a continuous, wrapped surface, with the gallery volume emerging from a lower horizontal base and expressed externally as a distinct vertical form.
This articulation establishes a clear departure from the orthogonal composition of earlier campus buildings, positioning the new addition as a singular, sculptural presence within the site while aligning the building’s form with its programme.
The scale of the Shuttle Gallery also defines the building’s presence within the city. At 200ft, it becomes the tallest structure within Exposition Park and is visible from multiple vantage points across Los Angeles. This visibility extends the project beyond its role as a museum addition, positioning it as a landmark within the urban landscape.
A three-decade architectural framework realised
The air and space centre is not an isolated intervention. It represents the third phase of a master plan developed by ZGF Architects for the California Science Center and its surrounding site, a process that began in the early 1990s. Over time, the institution has evolved from a collection of separate structures into a consolidated campus organised around a long-term vision of science education and public engagement.
Within this framework, the air and space centre fulfils an original objective to create a permanent home for a NASA space shuttle displayed in launch position. In contrast to earlier phases, which established a distributed set of exhibition spaces and public interfaces, the current phase introduces a more singular architectural move, defined by a dominant volume shaped around a single exhibit.
With the building now complete, the project enters its next phase, focused on the installation of aircraft, spacecraft and exhibition systems. The opening timeline will follow once this process is concluded, marking the transition from construction to operation within a project defined from the outset by its scale, duration and architectural ambition.
