This project represented the first collaboration between students and faculty from USC and ArtCenter, with Mary and David Martin/MADWORKSHOP funding the initiative.

The project involved a team of 12 students from each school. A passion for contemporary art, museum design and industry, architecture, and communication design were required for the students selected to work on this unique project.

The assignment was to reimagine the street-level plaza and courtyard entry experience of The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in downtown Los Angeles. Opened in 1986, MOCA’s Grand Avenue location was designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, and is located opposite The Broad Museum and Walt Disney Concert Hall.

MOCA became an active client for the students, with Philippe Vergne (MOCA Director from 2014-19), professors Jeffrey Higashi (ArtCenter 2009-2023) and Chiara Ferrari (ArtCenter 2016-Present), and professor Geoffrey von Oeyen (USC School of Architecture 2012-Present) overseeing the ideas and designs to be presented for the museum’s plaza, entryway, and surrounding courtyards.

“Mary and I have a keen interest in the arts, design, education, and have been founders and strong supporters of MOCA for many years. The chance to activate the iconic plaza at MOCA for the museum itself and the community-at-large is a wonderful opportunity. Our foundation, MADWORKSHOP, looks forward to supporting the 2017/18 team of students from ArtCenter and the USC School of Architecture and giving them all the key ingredients for success,” said MADWORKSHOP co-founder David Martin.

Philippe Vergne added, “There is no better way to be contemporary and stay contemporary than to work with students who bring new ideas and new perspectives and approach the world as a place to inhabit and improve.  We are thrilled to enlist the talents and imaginations of this group to help us solve very real conviviality challenges we have at MOCA’s Grand Avenue location. This partnership will help us understand how to better serve our visitors: how to allow them to “occupy MOCA”. I am so grateful to MADWORKSHOP, Mary and David Martin for being the enablers of this dialogue.”