LAUSD High School for the Visual and Performing Arts

[randomness]

So, a few weeks ago, I was driving through the Downtown Slot, when I passed underneath a spiral shaped structure like some kind of amusement park ride.


From Flickr, by alossix

I couldn't figure out what it was, particularly while driving down the freeway, so a couple of weeks later I went back and walked up the hill from Union Station to see whether I could identify it. It's kind of a long climb.

I couldn't get close, because the thing's still under construction, but I did manage to read the signs. Turns out it's the new LAUSD High School for the Visual and Performing Arts.

Anyone have any idea what the function of that spiral thing off the roof of the theatre is? Or is it just decorative? I'm reading that it's "a spiral ramp in form of a number 9", but not that it has any purpose.

(http://www.arcspace.com/architects/coop_himelblau/high_school/high_school.html, and http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=529012 have more photos, if that helps.)

Comments

[st-rev.livejournal.com]

Architecture doesn't seem to be about constructing actual buildings any more.

[mmancuso.livejournal.com]

Anyone have any idea what the function of that spiral thing off the roof of the theatre is? Or is it just decorative? I'm reading that it's "a spiral ramp in form of a number 9", but not that it has any purpose.

Looking at the renderings, I'd agree with you. There's no access to those structures that I can tell. However, the 9-shaped formation would be a good conduit for ejecting substandard work:

"I'm sorry, but we're going to have to send your midterm project into the F-orbtital around the school."

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

What a great idea!

*fwing*

[carneggy.livejournal.com]

Worth noting that it is in fact High School #9, so the spiral 9-shaped ramp is almost certainly decorative (especially since some of the design pics clearly show that it's not connected at either end.)

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw that--it was on the billboard outside the construction site--but I was hoping it wasn't *just* that.

I think it only looks like a 9 from above.

[meepodeekin.livejournal.com]

And what's inside that truncated cone building in the middle of the quad? It doesn't have any windows. And round buildings are hard to use.

I do wonder about these design awards. I mean yeah, it's a pretty picture, but 10-to-1 it's going to be wasteful and hard to get around.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

I believe that cone is going to be the library. And yes, people have already criticized the conical design as a terrible use of space.

[sarakate.livejournal.com]

It reminds me a very great deal of this, on the UM campus in Ann Arbor, which is so ugly we used to drag visitors up there just to boggle at it.

[twannger.livejournal.com]

I can tell you all sorts of things it shouldn't be, and if they are, someone needs to kick the architect's ass until he has to drop his pants to see. Architects should never design theaters, especially without the input of a theater person.

[(Anonymous)]

The big spiral structure was actually suppose to be a conference room with a 360 view of LA but that was X'd and now it has no function. Too bad considering it cost millions. But it does form a nine when seen from above.