Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Unveils Plans for New North Campus, Opening July 2011

Museum to Begin Outdoor Programming with New Urban Nature Experiences in Heart
of Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES--(Business Wire)--
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County announced today a $30 million
plan to create an expansive North Campus on the Museum site in Exposition Park:
3.5 acres of urban wilderness experiences and exhibits, serving as a new front
yard for the Museum, and a new nature destination in the heart of Los Angeles.

The North Campus is the first outdoor expression of the Museum`s master plan, an
historic transformation of public spaces and visitor experiences. Inside, the
metamorphosis has included renovations and seismic retrofitting to the historic
1913 Building, seven new galleries, five new permanent exhibitions, and a slate
of amenities, including a renovated store and café.

Set to open in July 2011, North Campus will increase the programming area of the
Museum by 50% and give visitors the opportunity to deepen their understanding of
the natural world before walking through the Museum`s doors. It will serve as a
main entrance for the public, connecting with a new Metro Expo Line stop in
front of the Museum and creating an extraordinary destination and resource for
Angelenos and visitors to Los Angeles.

Eleven thematic zones-Urban Edge, Transition Garden, Car Park, Living Wall,
Entrance Plaza, Urban Wilderness, Pollinator Garden, Shadow Garden, Get Dirty
Zone, Home Garden and 1913 Garden-will be interwoven with landscape features
such as a pond and dry creek, groves of trees, and walking paths.

The North Campus is a collaboration among the Museum, Jorge de la Cal, AIA, of
CO Architects, Don Webb of the Cordell Corporation, and Mia Lehrer + Associates.

NHM Next

The evolution at the Natural History Museum means exciting new experiences and
resources will open to the public each and every year through 2013. The
milestone reopening of the Museum`s 1913 Building begins in July 2010 with a new
Age of Mammals experience and exhibitions inside the iconic Haaga Family
Rotunda. North Campus and the highly anticipated exhibition Dinosaur Mysteries
both open in July 2011 and in 2012 Under the Sun, an exhibition exploring the
natural and cultural history of Los Angeles and Southern California, opens.

About the Museum

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is located at 900 Exposition
Blvd., Los Angeles. It is open daily 9:30 am to 5 pm. The Museum was the first
dedicated museum building in Los Angeles, opening its doors in 1913. It has
amassed one of the world`s most extensive and valuable collections of natural
and cultural history-with more than 35 million objects, some as old as 4.5
billion years. The Natural History Family of Museums includes the NHM, the Page
Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits (Hancock Park/Mid-Wilshire), and the William S.
Hart Park and Museum (Newhall, California).

Ruder Finn
Rachel Bauch, 310-882-4013
Cell: 323-841-4139
bauchr@ruderfinn.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010