The Natural History Museum (NHM) of Los Angeles County recently unveiled their

Rendering of NHM campus with North Campus and Otis Booth Pavilion complete in 2013. Rendering by CO Architects, courtesy of NHM.

Notably, a first of its kind museum indoor-outdoor experience that invites Angelenos to partake in the “Living Laboratory” experiment and re-discover the urban natural habitat of Los Angeles County.  Curators note, “What once was an asphalt sea of parking has been transformed into living space extending the exhibit within the Museum to a living laboratory outside.”

Patrons visiting the Museum will discover the Museum to be a dynamic indoor-outdoor experience for the entire family. 

This marks the first of many transitional changes for the Museum in preparation for their centennial celebrations in June 2013.  Guests familiar with the landscape prior to the renovations will find reason to revisit the fully refurbished outdoor oasis that will bring an appreciation of natural habitat to all those who visit.  On a note of thrift, museum goers can enjoy the first terrace greeting area of the new renovations without purchasing a museum entrance fee.    

The excitement was palpable at the unveiling of the north campus on April 19, 2012 with Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas on hand to mark this unprecedented renovation. 

Supervisor Thomas noted the importance of the natural scientific institution made available in the heart of Los Angeles and the opportunity it will present to the urban setting to understand and actively participate within their natural environment.  He paid homage to the vision of NHM’s Director Dr. Jane Pisano for her innovative vision to renovate the museum in the years prepping for the impending centennial celebration.  “North Campus is a major part of the historic metamorphosis taking place at NHM,” said Dr. Jane Pisano, president and director of the Museum.

It is hard to find a natural habitat living in the heart of the city, but stepping into the New North Campus brought a since of serenity matching that of a nature trail you might find the likes of miles away at Griffith Park.  The Museum has out done itself in thinking about their urbanized neighbors and discovering new ways to introduce them to understanding their habitat and preserving their environment.       

Nature enthusiasts can also keep track of all the activity unfolding in the new habitat by following the North Campus’s dedicated blog by NHM Lila Higgins (Education & Exhibits Special Project Assistant).

The blog features box cameras set up 24/7 on the North Campus which captures all of the critters setting up home in the new Museum Habitat.  Check out her latest blog entry here.

The following is courtesy Mia Lehrer + Associates the landscape design team on the project:

“This is a new kind of garden space, an urban ecological laboratory where people can learn and have a better understanding of nature within the city,” Lehrer said. “Nature is not just in our national parks, it is all around us. A better understanding of urban nature will foster an appreciation and stewardship of our natural world in the areas that we inhabit most. Mia Lehrer + Associates is very excited to have been an integral part of the creation of this garden with an institution that is positioned to provide this stewardship and education.”

 The North Campus is now open to the public.  To find out more about Museum hours and visitor information click here.