Discovery Cube Los Angeles

Discovery Cube Los Angeles
Name	Discovery Cube Los Angeles
Established	1998
Location	Los Angeles, California
Type	Science museum
Director	--
Website	--

Discovery Cube Los Angeles

Discovery Cube Los Angeles is a science center in Los Angeles that serves families, students, and tourists with interactive exhibits and STEM-focused programming. It operates alongside institutions such as the California Science Center, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Aquarium of the Pacific, La Brea Tar Pits, and California African American Museum. The museum engages regional partners including the Los Angeles Unified School District, University of Southern California, University of California, Los Angeles, California Institute of Technology, and local nonprofits.

History

The institution traces roots to community initiatives linked to the Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Family Museum, and redevelopment efforts involving the City of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles. Early collaborations involved urban planners from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, cultural leaders from Getty Trust, and civic organizations such as the Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and LA Conservancy. Leadership exchanges and fundraising campaigns featured trustees connected to the Annenberg Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, W. M. Keck Foundation, and philanthropists associated with The Ahmanson Foundation and The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. Expansion phases referenced models from the Exploratorium, Museum of Science, Boston, The Franklin Institute, and Science Museum, London. Political support during development intersected with offices of the Mayor of Los Angeles, members of the Los Angeles City Council, and state legislators from the California State Assembly and California State Senate.

Exhibits and Programs

Permanent and rotating displays draw inspiration from exhibit practices at the Smithsonian Institution, British Museum, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, and Field Museum of Natural History. Signature galleries cover topics linked to partners including NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and United States Geological Survey. STEM initiatives align with curricula from Common Core State Standards Initiative, collaborations with California Department of Education, and outreach similar to programs by the Madison Children's Museum and Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Specialized exhibits echo content from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Southern California Edison, and community health campaigns like those led by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Kaiser Permanente. Visitor services and event programming follow practices from institutions such as Walt Disney Imagineering, Dolby Laboratories, LA Philharmonic, and festival partners like L.A. County Fair and Cinespia.

Education and Outreach

Education work interfaces with higher-education partners including California State University, Los Angeles, California State University, Northridge, Occidental College, Pepperdine University, and Mount Saint Mary's University. Teacher professional development references networks similar to National Science Teachers Association and American Association for the Advancement of Science. Youth workforce programs partner with local agencies like the Los Angeles Workforce Development Board, nonprofit groups such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, and civic programs tied to AmeriCorps and Teach For America. Accessibility and inclusion efforts coordinate with LA County Department of Mental Health, Special Olympics Southern California, and advocacy organizations like Disability Rights California and Koreatown Youth + Community Center.

Architecture and Facilities

The site's design and fabrication drew on local firms with precedents set by projects like the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Griffith Observatory, Getty Center, and Staples Center. Construction contractors interfaced with regulatory bodies including the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety and regional planners from the Southern California Association of Governments. Environmental systems and sustainability measures referenced the U.S. Green Building Council and certification programs akin to LEED standards promoted by the City of West Hollywood and municipal sustainability offices. Visitor amenities and transportation access coordinate with hubs such as Union Station (Los Angeles), Los Angeles International Airport, and corridors like Harbor Freeway and Glendale Freeway.

Management and Funding

Operational governance involves nonprofit management practices comparable to boards that guide institutions like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Broad, Hammer Museum, and Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Fundraising draws on grantmakers such as the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Ford Foundation, and corporate philanthropy from Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chevron Corporation, Google, and Amazon. Revenue streams include admissions, memberships, event rentals, and partnerships similar to models used by Madison Square Garden Company and Live Nation Entertainment. Compliance, human resources, and financial oversight align with standards advocated by the Council on Foundations and Independent Sector.

Community Impact and Recognition

Community programming has been recognized by civic awards from the City of Los Angeles, honors from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and acknowledgments from academic partners including Cal State LA and UCLA Extension. Public health collaborations mirror initiatives with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and California Health and Human Services Agency. Cultural partnerships and media coverage have involved outlets and events like Los Angeles Times, KCET, KTLA, KCRW, LA Weekly, and festivals such as Nisei Week and CicLAvia. Peer institutions that have noted the museum's models include Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, Exploratorium, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and LEGOLAND California Resort.

Category:Science museums in California