MOCA Re-imagined

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | FALL 2017 | Fourth Year First Semester

PROFESSOR GEOFFREY VON OEYEN

This project was developed as a merged studio collaboration between the USC School of Architecture and ArtCenter College of Design. The proposal explores ways to expand and enhance the museum experience at MOCA while remaining respectful of Arata Isozaki’s existing architecture and the institution’s core values.

Located along Grand Avenue, the project responds to MOCA’s role within a dense cultural and civic context. The design focuses on creating a sequence of indoor and outdoor spaces that support gathering, art engagement, and everyday use, extending the museum experience beyond the galleries and into the public realm. New spaces for events, retail, and dining are integrated to strengthen connections between the museum, the plaza, and the surrounding neighborhood.

The work was informed by site observation, interviews with museum staff, visitors, and stakeholders, and collective research conducted by a team of 26 students. Together, these efforts helped identify opportunities to activate the campus while allowing for flexibility, evolving programming, and multiple types of visitor experiences.