The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, opened September 22 in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park as an institution dedicated to the universal tradition of storytelling through images. Designed by Ma Yansong of MAD with Stantec, the 300,000-square-foot building is clad in more than 1,200 curved panels of fiberglass-reinforced polymer, each uniquely shaped. Its central arch spans 185 feet over a public plaza, where an elliptical oculus hovers four stories above, opening a view from ground to sky. The roof is itself a landscape of plantings and winding paths.
Inside, the lobby’s concave walls curve around two banks of glass elevators. On either side sit two theaters with identical systems supporting 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos formats, built around Meyer Sound Acheron® cinema loudspeakers and designed by Boston-based consultant Sandhill Media.
Each theater carries the building’s sculptural language indoors with a ceiling of acoustic panels arranged in rings that tier upward and inward, forming a vortex over the audience. Together, the rooms anchor the museum’s inaugural film program, running continuous screenings that visitors can drop in on at their own pace. The Robert Flaherty Theater presents documentaries about artists in the collection. The Slavko Vorkapich Theater, named for the experimental film editor and theorist who chaired the USC film department Lucas would later attend, showcases avant-garde shorts, animation, and rare student films Lucas made between 1965 and 1969. Its booth is also equipped for traditional 35mm film projection.
Lucas Design Team Chooses Meyer Sound From the Start
Sandhill Media Founder Steve Sutter came aboard early in the museum’s development, helping shape its media technology as well as its theaters. For Sutter, the loudspeaker choice was clear. “I just said, it’s going to be Meyer Sound,” he explains. “It fits; it’s the right solution. There was never really a question. The quality was important to the museum.”
In each theater, the system is anchored by five Acheron® 100 loudspeakers. Two HMS-15™ surround loudspeakers cover the left- and right-wide positions, while 26 HMS-12™ cinema surrounds handle the side and overhead channels. Six 2100‑LFC™ low-frequency control elements reproduce the LFE channel, and eight USW‑210P™ subwoofers provide bass management. Beyond film, the systems also support press conferences and small live performances.
Reliability Drives the Overhead Design
The vortex ceilings made access difficult. The installers, Los Angeles-based integrator Solutionz, aimed the overhead loudspeakers using calculated geometry. “Reliability was key, because we didn’t want to be having to even think about going into the ceiling in the next five years, at least,” Sutter says. “It’s a complicated shape like all theaters are. But it works and it sure sounds good. We managed to get a nice spread throughout the whole thing.”
Meyer Sound Joins a Storytelling Landmark
The response so far has been strong. “I’ve had a lot of people through and we’ve run sections of different high-end movies, and it’s pretty awesome,” Sutter says. “They agree, it’s probably one of the best rooms in L.A.”
“Film is one of the defining art forms of our time, and its sound is inseparable from its story,” says Meyer Sound Co-Founder Helen Meyer. “To be part of a museum built to honor that legacy, from cinema’s earliest experiments to today’s immersive mixes, is a profound honor for us.”
About Meyer Sound
Founded in 1979 by John and Helen Meyer, Meyer Sound is the global leader and innovator in self-powered loudspeaker systems and active acoustics. Headquartered in Berkeley, California, with operations globally, the company is driven by a singular mission: to create the best sonic experiences in the world. With more than 100 patents and a legacy of breakthrough technologies—including the first dedicated loudspeaker processors and large-scale self-powered arrays—Meyer Sound combines scientific innovation with precision craftsmanship. Its premium systems power the world’s most iconic concert tours and festivals, theatrical productions, cinemas, houses of worship, educational institutions, and more. The company champions sustainable manufacturing and invests in the future of sound through education and global partnerships.
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