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Getty Center was among the endangered landmarks in Los Angeles that faced the threat of the devastating wildfire. Although many historical structures didn't survive, the art campus in LA's Brentwood has remained safe despite the evacuation orders in the region.
The significant LA attraction, the Getty Center, was designed by architect Richard Meier. The plan for J. Paul Getty Trust's Brentwood campus was conceptualized during the 1980s. Subsequently, Meier was hired to design the center on "a 110-acre hilltop site in the Santa Monica Mountains." The construction began in the late 1980s, with the Southern Californian artist Robert Irwin being commissioned in 1992 to design the central garden of the campus.
Ultimately, J. Paul Getty Trust opened its Brentwood center in 1997, boasting a unique anti-fire design, which reportedly also keeps the art safe during emergencies like earthquakes. Read on to learn more about how the engineering behind the Getty Center's architecture keeps it safe from disasters like fire.
Getty Center is touted as the "safest place" for art due to its fire-resistant landscaping
Getty Center is the safest place on earth for art because of its "fire-resistant landscaping." The structures are built with "highly fire-resistant stone, concrete, and protected steel." Due to its spacious layout, with an open area between the structures and "wide-open travertine plazas," the design of the premises is meant to slow down the growth of the fire. Furthermore, the well-irrigated landscaping will likely decelerate the fire if it breaks out.
Besides the structures, the Getty Center's garden houses drought-resistant plants and oak trees. At the same time, the administration has claimed to search for dry areas and actively adjust the irrigation appropriately. The fire-resistant landscaping ensures safety on the ground. At the same time, the center's roofs are also covered with fire-resistant stone aggregate, which guards the structures against flying embers (in case of wind gusts assisting a fire activity).
Besides its fire-resistant landscaping, another feature that ensures the safety of the art is the double-door design. Each structure is designed with a fire separation, in which the doors are claimed to "isolate any problem areas from the rest of the site." In case of smoke, the carbon-filtered air conditioning system on campus helps maintain a pressure flow. Mike Rogers, Getty's director of facilities, said in 2019,
"If there's a fire in the building, we have ways to manage smoke so people can evacuate safely, and firefighters can get in and deal with it quickly."
Apart from all anti-fire engineering qualities, the center also houses many fire sprinklers, which are only to be used as a last option in case of a fire-related activity. Talking about the marvelous architecture and design of the Getty Center, Rogers was quoted saying in 2019 (at the time of the Getty fire),
"We have a very significant building here. It was well thought-out and carefully constructed, and is very carefully maintained and operated. I'm very proud of that, and of our incredible team. We feel very safe here."
In 2025, with a series of wildfires destroying LA County, Getty Villa and Center were among the landmarks at risk. However, both of J. Paul Getty Trust's hubs (attractions in Pacific Palisades and Brentwood)remained relatively stable amidst the devastation caused by the LA wildfires.
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For the unversed, the Getty Center is house to "the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Library, Getty Research Institute, Getty Foundation, and Getty Conservation Institute." The Brentwood Museum also attracts 1.8 million visitors annually.
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