The Broad

Los Angeles County · 2015

The Broad
Editor's Pick

A honeycomb veil wrapped around a vault of contemporary art

Contemporary art museum in Downtown Los Angeles.

Major PracticeEditor's Pick
Year
2015
Coordinates
34.0544°, -118.2510°
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Visitor Guide

Visitor Tip

The free admission makes this one of the best cultural deals in America. Take the escalator up through "the vault" — the journey from lobby to gallery through the honeycomb ceiling is choreographed brilliantly.

Best Photo Spot

From Grand Avenue with Disney Concert Hall gleaming behind. Inside, the cellular ceiling creates extraordinary diffused light.

Access & Hours

Free admission but timed tickets required — book online weeks ahead. Walk-up standby line available.

Insider Note

Diller Scofidio + Renfro call it "the veil and the vault." The porous exoskeleton filters light for the galleries above while the sealed concrete vault below stores the collection. Form follows collection management.

Time Needed

1.5-2 hours

Design & Structure

VoronoiExoskeletonShell Structure
Computational Process

The "veil" is a fiberglass-reinforced concrete honeycomb structure with 2,500 individual cells. Each cell was computationally optimized to control daylight penetration while maintaining structural integrity. The oculus openings were placed using parametric rules based on gallery lighting requirements.

Materiality

Glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) honeycomb exterior, poured concrete vault interior. The contrast between the porous white veil and the massive concrete core creates the building's dramatic tension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is The Broad located?+

The Broad is located in Los Angeles County, United States. Its coordinates are 34.0544°, -118.2510°.

When was The Broad built?+

The Broad was completed in 2015.

Can I visit The Broad?+

The Broad is a real building in Los Angeles County that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.