Los Angeles Philharmonic Association

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Los Angeles Philharmonic Donor Recognition Signage
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California

We worked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association to design a number of site-specific installations in both the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Offices. The installations specifically recognized the generosity of Los Angeles Philharmonic donors. A flexible system of white acrylic tiles was designed to create a matte white cloud in the Disney Concert Hall lobby. The names of the donors were laser cut into the tiles. Because the system was composed of small units that are like the scales of a fish, it was able to adapt to the complex curvature of the wall that it is mounted on. It can also be easily added to in order to accomodate future donor names.

Following the success of the donor recognition signage in the lobby of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, we were asked to produce another installation in the main lobby of the administrative offices of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association. A large shingled wall of individual linticular tiles creates a lively surface that changes color as one moves past it from the elevators to the reception area. A dedication composed by the former conductor of the philharmonic, Essa-Pekka Salonen greets visitors as they arrive. The dynamism and sense of joy enabled by the design are an integral part of building a unique and contemporary identity for the organization.

Project credits:
Russell Thomsen, Eric Kahn, Ron Golan.
Photography by Benny Chan/Fotoworks.


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About Russell Thomsen

A founding partner in the award winning Central Office of Architecture (COA, 1987-2008) and IDEA Office (2009-2014), Russell Thomsen formed RNThomsen Architecture in 2015. He has been a licensed architect since 1989. The office provides a full range of architectural services. In addition to directing the practice, Russell is also a senior design studio faculty member at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in downtown Los Angeles. The work of the office has been internationally recognized, exhibited and published. The office has received several awards including the Architectural League Prize and Emerging Voices, both from the Architectural League of New York, and the Best In American Architecture Award for the Saitama Residence.