Can the Broad Art Foundation Transform Grand Avenue?

A few years ago, New York’s High Line architects Diller, Scofidio + Renfro won the commission to design Eli Broad’s art foundation, located opposite MOCA on Grand Avenue. The self-described, “unreasonable” Broad has not wasted a minute, and the Broad Art Foundation building is around halfway complete (we last checked in during January of 2011). Architect Charles Renfro was in LA last week, talking at Woodbury University about the firm’s work, which is known for its theatricality or what they describe as “mise-en-scene.” While there Frances sat down with Charles to talk about the project—from its conception to the status of its complex construction, and most importantly, what it can do for Grand Avenue.

The Broad-in-progress, photo by Bennett Stein

The "hole" in the middle of Grand Avenue, opposite The Broad, photo by Frances Anderton

Top image: A rendering of the completed building