In preparation for its 25th anniversary in 2005, the Board of Directors of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC) initiated a Futures Program to revitalize its existing facilities and to construct significant new additions. The Futures Program will insure that the JACCC maintains its leadership role as a major cultural organization in downtown Los Angeles while strengthening its capacity to serve future generations of Japanese Americans.

To guide this effort, the JACCC Board of Directors constituted a Futures Committee chaired by Justice Kathryn Doi Todd in February 2001 to chart the Center’s long-term vision and operating needs, and to make recommendations on the facilities required to turn that vision into a reality. The Futures Committee, working in consultation with a standing JACCC Facilities Committee, retained qualified consultants to conduct a formal needs assessment, and to make specific recommendations on technical equipment upgrades for its theatre, gallery and community spaces, respectively.

To assist the JACCC with the design of new and expanded public programming spaces, the Committee undertook a formal architectural selection process that eventually identified Toyo Ito and Associates, working with the firm of WWCOT, as the architects to lead the Futures design effort.

The architects were charged with creating a JACCC for the future that would be welcoming to the public, provide a variety of new, flexible programming spaces, and create expanded earned income potential in an energy-efficient environment. An intensive period of work by the architects produced an exciting new facilities concept featuring the following components:

Center Building
Highlighted by a new public entryway and second-story terrace connecting the existing Center Building to the Theatre structure, and the installation of a glass curtainwall around the building exterior. New programming spaces designed on the basement, first and second floors include a digital education and learning center, conference rooms and meeting facilities, a catering kitchen, a 200-seat multi-purpose lecture and reception hall, a gift shop, and a new 3,000 square foot community gallery to enhance the existing Main Gallery. new facilities to be held in 2005, the JACCC’s 25th Anniversary year.

Theatre
Providing extensive refurbishment of the existing Japan America Theatre facility, an 880-seat performing arts venue. Improvements include a Lobby expansion, the creation of new basement-level dressing and meeting rooms, larger public restrooms, a new Box Office, a new artists’ Green Room, expanded office space, and completely updated technical stage systems and equipment.

Plaza and Garden
Better access and integration of these assets to other JACCC facilities in order to increase public programming use and enjoyment.

Proposed Capital Improvements
Phase I of the Futures Program, costing an estimated $7 million, will result in the creation of a new Digital Learning and Education Center occupying the entire second floor of the JACCC Center Building. The Learning Center will feature computer stations and resource reading materials now housed in the Franklin D. Murphy Library, along with well-equipped conference and meeting room spaces. It will have a modern, open architectural design that is attractive and accessible to a wide range of users. In addition, Phase I will modernize the community tenant and public spaces in the Center Building, including installation of high-efficiency lighting and window treatments, replacement of the HVAC and passenger elevator systems, new restrooms, and sprinkler systems. The last component of Phase I will include significant improvements to the George & Sakaye Aratani / Japan America Theatre, including upgrading of technical theatre equipment, replacement of auditorium seating, and renovations to the backstage Green Room and shop areas.

Following the completion of Phase I improvements, a second phase of work will be undertaken which includes the development of a new 200-seat Lecture and Reception Hall, a second 3,000-square foot Community Gallery, a Japanese Cultural Teacher Rehearsal Room, a new public lobby and elevator entryway into the JACCC Center Building, and the installation of a Terrace Bridge connecting the Theatre and Center Building.

Construction of Phase I is scheduled to begin in late-2004 with the public rededication of the new facilities to be held in 2005, the JACCC’s 25th Anniversary year.

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