One of the greatest advantages of living in a city like Los Angeles is being able to easily take advantage of all the cultural institutions available to residents and outsiders alike. And there's not much that can match the shared sense of excitement and anticipation created when one of these institutions unveils a redesign or a new expansion. A bit of careful renovation can revive a forgotten landmark, or make a beloved destination even more appealing. From theaters to museums to theme parks, let's take a look at some of the most significant renovations happening now at major LA institutions.
Read More9 Los Angeles Cultural Institutions Undergoing Major Renovations
From theaters to museums to theme parks, these LA sites are all getting updates
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Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
A massive redesign of the LACMA campus, designed by Swiss architect and Pritzker winner Peter Zumthor, is set to get underway in 2018. The overhaul would replace four of the museum's buildings with a massive structure that winds across Wilshire Boulevard. All that's left to figure out is the money; so far LACMA has raised almost half the $600 million it needs to begin work.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The venerable home of the USC Trojans (and temporary home of the LA Rams) is getting a $270-million update set to begin after the 2017 football season. The project will add digital screens, new seating, and luxury boxes, but will also cut the stadium's total capacity by about 16,000 in the process.
John Anson Ford Amphitheatre
Constructed in the early days of Hollywood, this outdoor theater operated by LA County is set to reopen this summer after years of painstaking renovation. Updated features will include brand new seats and a food market.
California Science Center
The Science Center is working on building a permanent home for the massive space shuttle Endeavour, now on display in a temporary pavilion. Expected to be complete by 2019, the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will add 188,000 square feet of exhibit space to the museum.
Union Station
LA's historic train station will soon be getting a series of upgrades that include pedestrian-friendly changes to its entrances and plans to accommodate a future bullet train (if that project ever comes to fruition). The first phase of the master plan could begin later this year.
Los Angeles Convention Center
The below image is a rendering of what less than a year ago seemed like a sure bet to be the design of a revamped convention center. Now, however, the City Council is wavering as it considers possibly opening the site up to private development. Regardless of what they decide, the 45-year-old convention center is likely to see big changes in the next few years.
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The Aquarium of the Pacific
Long Beach's huge aquarium is getting even bigger, with a $53-million, 29,000-square-foot expansion. The new addition includes a 300-seat theater, new exhibit space, a remodeled entrance, and an art gallery. Construction should be complete by the end of 2018.
Ports O'Call Marketplace
The cheesy (and 20 percent vacant) waterfront complex of shops and restaurants in San Pedro is getting a chic, $100-million makeover that promises to give the area a Fisherman's Wharf-type feel. New stores and eateries are on the way, along with a few nostalgia-inducing Red Car trolleys. The complex will also be renamed the San Pedro Public Market. It's expected to open in 2020.
Disneyland
When Disney acquired the rights to the Star Wars universe in 2012, it seemed like only a matter of time before the franchise was treated to its own "land" at Disney parks around the world. In addition to the new Star Wars-themed area, Disney is also planning major changes to its iconic Rivers of America waterfront. The projects don't have a solid timetable yet, but construction recently began on Star Wars land.
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