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

[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.