Since it opened in 1997 the Getty Center’s tram has offered a means for visitors to get to the Richard Meier and Partners–designed building from Interstate 405 below. As part of a sweeping renovation of the Getty Center’s campus, this rite of passage for visiting the Los Angeles museum will be replaced.
In April, the Getty announced its plans to replace the aging tram as a part of a comprehensive campus renovation that will realize the most “significant series of modernization initiatives,” since the museum’s opening. Today, it shared visuals that detail what the updated tram system and revamped entrance points will look like. The Los Angeles institution is working Gehry Partners, WHY Architecture, OLIN, and manufacturer Doppelmayr.
Each year the Getty Center welcomes 1.4 million visitors. It’s the job of the automated people mover to get patrons up the hill and to the art and artifacts. The updated system will increase capacity and reduce wait times. The transportation will be manufactured by Doppelmayr, which has systems installed in airports and transit centers around the world.
Gehry Partners will be behind new upgrades that will be made to the arrival/parking area, dubbed Lower Tram. Renderings show a new structure with a fan-like roof that spans over the plaza where crowds will wait for their ride up the hill. The glass roof allows natural light to pour over the plaza and the staircase leading up to it. Surrounding the Gehry Partners–designed Lower Tram structure will be new landscaping from OLIN. Among the plantings, the Getty plans to install sculptures and other art commissions.
After disembarking from the updated tram, visitors will step foot in a new Welcome Hall. WHY Architecture is leading the design of this lobby space, where improved signage will curate visitor pathways through the campus. A new cafe lined with floor-to-ceiling wood shelves and bookstore will also be located here.
Beyond improvements to the tram and the entrance areas, the Getty’s renovation will also provide upgrades to the HVAC system. In a press release the museum said more details related to the energy and sustainability improvements would be shared at a later date.
While construction is underway the Getty will temporarily close to the public. This closure will start on March 15, 2027, with reopening planned for spring 2028. The project is estimated to cost between $600 and $800 million.
