Getty Center Reveals Renovation Plan: New Trams, New Entrance, New Green Spaces
By Theo Belci
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Los Angeles’s Getty Center has announced specific plans for its upcoming renovation—most significantly, the museum will be replacing the futuristic tram that’s ferried visitors to the premises since 1997 and updating the system with new tram cars that will significantly reduce wait time and increase capacity. The international people mover manufacturer Doppelmayr will handle the design and manufacturing of the new trams.
Additionally, with the help of Gehry Partners, WHY Architecture and OLIN landscaping, the Getty will be building a new welcome hall (to accommodate increasing numbers of visitors), a garden cafe, and a new gift shop, as well as significantly increasing guests’ access to green space. Accompanying these developments are a new sheltered stairway, reinstalled outdoor sculptures, and newly commissioned works from contemporary artists.
As the Getty Center announced in April, the museum will temporarily close to the public during renovations, beginning on March 15, 2027. The museum plans to reopen in spring 2028, before the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
The first phase of the Getty Center’s modernization has already begun, the museum said—some galleries have been closed to accommodate upgrades to the campus HVAC system, among other gallery improvement projects.
“This comprehensive program of campus-wide upgrades will strengthen the site’s sustainability and accessibility, reaffirming our long-term commitment to its stewardship through sustained investment in maintenance, while elevating the quality, comfort, and depth of our visitors’ experience,” Tim Whalen, John E. and Louise Bryson Director of the Getty Conservation institute and Vice President of Institutional Planning for the J. Paul Getty Trust, said in a statement.
This article was originally published by Artforum.