The construction team working on the Petersen Automotive Museum on Wilshire Boulevard installed the final “ribbon” on the building last Friday, completing the exterior design for the facility.

Crews lowered the last ribbon into place at the Petersen Automotive Museum on Aug. 7, completing the exterior transformation. (Photo by Gregory Cornfield)

“We wanted to capture some sense of motion or movement,” said Adam Langsbard, chief marketing officer for the Petersen. “But you’re doing that with a building that’s standing still, so that’s a bit of an exercise.”

The ribbon design by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates was the first submitted idea, and Langsbard said it has not changed since its original presentation.

“The idea is all these ribbons are sort of separated from each other and separated from the building,” he said. “They oscillate up and down and away and closer to the building at the same time. So when you’re driving by, they’re kind of moving with you.”

Langsbard said cars from the museum’s collection were studied for the ribbons, so you can look at a shape of a particular ribbon and see a certain car.

The interior has been completely gutted down to concrete and rebar. A three-story spiral staircase will be the artful centerpiece.

“The museum never had anything like that before,” Langsbard said. “We had escalators that went to one floor, and then you had to take elevators to another. We were a department store.”

Glass, steel and new technology features inside the museum will match the excitement of the exterior is matched when visitors enter the building.

“We’re constructing the interior to the extent that we won’t let you down,” Langsbard said.

When the museum closed, there were seven flat screen TVs. When it reopens, it will have 90 to 100 projection screen units, 40 to 50 flat screens and 20 to 30 touch screens.

“I think one of the things that’s going to make this place extraordinarily special is we’ve partnered with a variety of different companies,” Langsbard said. “In the simulation gallery, you get into a virtual sled, choose a racetrack, a car and race the car. There will be a host of interactive experiences.”

Another special feature Langsbard is excited about is the new Ford GT to be displayed at the museum. The Petersen will be the only place in the world you can buy a ticket to see the $400,000 car before it goes on sale in 2016.

Langsbard said visitors can expect the museum to open in the first or second week of December.