Frank II

(Downtown Los Angeles) Opened in October 2003 this concert hall pushed the boundaries of technology with its acclaimed titanium façade. High performance technology programs (CATIA) computationally engineered the structure, while the design has become an internationally recognized architectural landmark. The building is built in the ‘Deconstructivism’ style which is a movement of postmodern architecture starting to appear in the 1980s. This style constructs with fragments rather than symmetry and obvious harmony. Originally intended to be clad in stone, Gehry suddenly changed the stone to metal after receiving much acclaim for his titanium building in Bilbao. In fact, the concert hall was commissioned before the Guggenheim but completed afterward due to lack of funding. This allowed the Architect to practice details and train for the building in LA. The swooping panels enclose a giant auditorium below with great acoustics. Gehry has said that, as with all his buildings, the concert hall was designed “from the inside out”. The interiors are column-free, made possible by its large steel roof structure.