The Santa Monica Museum of Art is a complex of contemporary art galleries, production facilities, classrooms and administrative offices sited within Bergamot Station, an abandoned industrial sector transformed into a cultural center. 

 

 

The former factory was stripped down to its concrete and steel skeleton. The exposed structure provided a neutral framework for the galleries. Large skylights placed throughout the museum charge the space with immediacy. 

 

 

Central to the design process was the museumís identity and role within Bergamot Station. The museum is seen as the Centerís new core, an important catalyst to its continued vitality. It was critical that the formal and functional relationships of the design support an environment that welcomes the public while providing a secure and efficient framework from which the museum can operate.