Wende Museum to Expand into Midcentury Gem by George Nowak in Los Angeles

TITLE: Wende Museum to Expand into Midcentury Gem by George Nowak in Los Angeles
SLUG: wende-museum-expansion-george-nowak-los-angeles
EXCERPT: Welcome Projects and BoydDesign are undertaking the adaptive reuse of the 1965 Hahn Building, designed by prolific movie theater architect George Nowak, to serve as an extension for the Wende Museum in Culver City.
CATEGORY: architecture-news
TAGS: adaptive reuse, midcentury modernism, museum, Los Angeles, George Nowak, Wende Museum, Welcome Projects, BoydDesign
SEO_TITLE: Wende Museum Extension: Midcentury Los Angeles Building by George Nowak Renovated
SEO_DESCRIPTION: The Wende Museum is expanding into a 1965 George Nowak-designed office building in Los Angeles, a project led by Welcome Projects and BoydDesign focusing on adaptive reuse.
MEDIA_QUERY: George Nowak designed Hahn Building exterior for Wende Museum extension, Culver City, Los Angeles
IMAGE_ALT: Exterior of the Hahn Building, a midcentury office building in Los Angeles, designed by George Nowak.

The Wende Museum, a repository of Cold War history based in Culver City, Los Angeles, is set to expand its facilities with the adaptive reuse of a significant midcentury building. Welcome Projects and BoydDesign are leading the renovation of the 1965 Hahn Building, originally designed by prolific movie theater architect George Nowak, into an extension for the museum. This new facility, to be named the Wende’s Institute for Archival Research, will provide a dedicated home for the museum’s extensive collection.

The Hahn Building, commissioned by shopping mall mogul Ernst Hahn as his corporate headquarters, is a notable example of midcentury modern architecture. Nowak, known for his work on numerous movie theaters, designed a structure that now serves as a fitting backdrop for the Wende Museum’s temporal focus and appreciation for midcentury modernism. The museum’s collection spans from the personal papers of GDR chairman Erich Honecker to ephemera reflecting Soviet hippy culture, and has previously featured exhibitions on diverse topics like housing projects in Ghana.

Key facts

• Feature: Detail
• Project: Wende’s Institute for Archival Research (Wende Museum extension)
• Location: Culver City, Los Angeles
• Original Building: Hahn Building, 1965
• Original Architect: George Nowak
• Renovation Architects: Welcome Projects, BoydDesign
• Building Size: 24,000 square feet
• Collection Size: Over 250,000 artifacts, artworks, and archival collections
• Completion Target: 2028

Restoring the Midcentury Fabric

The adaptive reuse project emphasizes a philosophy of "addition through subtraction," aiming to restore the building to its original splendor and functional qualities. Michael Boyd, founder of BoydDesign, stated that the renovation will revert the building to its "really clean, simple modernist skeleton" based on original plans. This involves removing layers added since Ernst Hahn occupied the building, such as cubicles and extraneous signage.

During the renovation process, the removal of a dropped ceiling revealed an impressive truss structure, described as reminiscent of Jean Prouvé or Albert Kahn's factory designs. This discovery informed the creation of a large, open space. Boyd’s extensive experience with midcentury modern homes, including projects for Paul Rudolph, Oscar Niemeyer, Craig Elwood, Richard Neutra, and John Lautner, has provided him with intimate knowledge of the structural and aesthetic qualities of buildings like the Nowak-designed Hahn Building.

The Hahn Building retains many of its original features, including terrazzo stone floors, travertine marble, and rosewood veneer walls. Original furniture crafted from walnut, leather, and other high-end materials, alongside a substantial conference table evoking Gio Ponti's designs, are also present. The renovation will preserve these elements while incorporating necessary updates for modern museum operations.

The exterior of the building, particularly the facade facing El Segundo Boulevard, has undergone sandblasting but will otherwise remain untouched, described as "absolutely spectacular." Minor modifications on the rear facade will enhance natural light access. An addition designed by Nowak and Hahn in the late 1980s will receive new glazing, and an enclosed overhang and the removal of some parking spaces will improve pedestrian access.

Modern Museum Facilities

The Wende’s Institute for Archival Research will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to support the museum's collection and scholarly activities. These will include museum-grade climate control systems, a digitization lab for processing archival materials, conservation workshops, and dedicated reading rooms. These spaces will be accessible to scholars, students, artists, and filmmakers, facilitating deeper engagement with the Wende Museum's unique holdings.

Boyd expressed satisfaction with the project, noting the rarity of finding intact midcentury modern architecture in Los Angeles, much of which has been altered beyond recognition. He described the project as a "midcentury modern fantasy architecture" that is becoming increasingly scarce. The renovation aims to preserve the building's historical integrity while adapting it for contemporary use, a task he finds particularly rewarding.

The construction is slated for completion in 2028, marking a significant milestone for the Wende Museum and the preservation of Los Angeles's architectural heritage. This expansion will not only secure a permanent home for the museum's vast collection but also contribute to the revitalization and appreciation of significant midcentury modern structures.

This development offers a valuable case study in adaptive reuse for architects and urban planners, demonstrating how historical buildings can be repurposed to serve contemporary cultural needs without compromising their architectural integrity. For Los Angeles residents and architecture enthusiasts, it signifies the preservation of a piece of modernist history and the enhancement of cultural institutions within the city. The project highlights the ongoing dialogue between historical preservation and modern functional requirements in the built environment.

Source: The Architect's Newspaper (https://www.archpaper.com/2026/05/wellcome-projects-boyddesign-wende-museum/)