S.J. Amoroso Construction Co., Inc.

Owner:

S.J. Amoroso Construction Co., Inc.

Architect:

Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Assoc., LLP

Client:

City of Los Angeles

Scope Of Work

The project included restoration of the Historic entry rotunda, exhibit spaces, and director's office suite located on the first floor of the building. Also included was the complete demolition of the interior, and rehabilitation of the planetarium located on the first floor. A 35,070 GSF below-grade expansion includes additional exhibit space, a new 200-seat theater/lecture hall, classroom spaces and public amenities. The new exhibit space is accessed by a new stairwell and an interconnection corridor beneath the existing rotunda and west exhibit hall. Amoroso excavated around and beneath the existing building and for the expansion under the front lawn, we shored and excavated decomposed granite and sandstone to nearly 40 ft. below ground level to within a few ft. of the existing building on its hilltop perch in Griffith Park. We also shored and underpinned the footings under the building and excavated, sometimes using mining equipment, beneath for added exhibit space under the observatory effectively adding a basement.