SPRING ARCH TOUR FEST: Glorya Kaufman Community Center at the Wende Museum

Photo Credit: Bruce Damonte

Spring ARCH TOUR FEST: Glorya Kaufman Community Center at the Wende Museum

Information regarding the tour will be emailed directly to registrants 24 hours before the event.

The Adaptive Reuse project is designed as a multipurpose hub in the heart of Culver City’s cultural corridor, the Glorya Kaufman Community Center evokes Cold War–era architecture while its program supports the Wende Museum’s mission to learn from the past in order to inspire social change in the future. The 7,500-square-foot concrete structure joins the museum’s existing exhibition building, a former National Guard Armory, on a long and narrow site. Together, these buildings form a campus of cultural, educational, and social services, knitted together by a communal landscape.

Tour Led by:

Brian Wickersham, FAIA – Founding Partner, AUX Architecture

Brian Wickersham, FAIA, is the founding partner of AUX Architecture. With more than 25 years of experience, he creates meaningful spaces that promote creativity and community. Bringing both rigor and spontaneity to his designs, he cultivates research and collaboration in his Los Angeles studio to produce bespoke architecture that best serves client needs. He likens this robust process to jazz: improvisational and collective. AUX Architecture’s diverse body of work includes award-winning residential and multifamily homes, retail environments, art galleries, and education and cultural arts centers. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Brian strives to mitigate architecture’s impact on the environment. He integrates care and sustainability into all aspects of the studio.

Architect: AUX Architecture

Building Credits:

General Contractor-Shawmut

Structural-Nous

Landscape-SQLA & Michael Boyd

AIA CES: 1 LU|HSW Approved

Learning Objectives:
Identify how adaptive reuse can transform underutilized structures into vibrant, multifunctional spaces that address local needs for cultural, educational, and social services.

Examine how reusing an existing structure contributes to sustainability goals by reducing demolition waste and minimizing the environmental impact of new construction.

Evaluate how the renovated and newly constructed elements of the community center provide inclusive, ADA-compliant access to programs and public spaces for all users.

Learn how the adaptive reuse process addresses modern building codes and safety standards, including seismic upgrades, fire safety, and indoor air quality improvements.

Understand the concept of a “Swiss Army Space” and how multifunctional design supports diverse community programming, promotes mental and social wellbeing, and enhances local quality of life.

Review how cross-sector collaboration can activate dormant public assets, promote civic engagement, and extend the reach of educational and outreach programs.

Parking Information:

Ample free parking in the adjacent lot