Academy Museum: Grand Lobby Dedicated to Sidney Poitier
The museum will open to the public on September 30.

The 10,000-square-foot lobby of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which will open to the public on September 30, is being named after film legend and Oscar winner Sidney Poitier, the museum announced on Monday.
The Sidney Poitier Grand Lobby was possible through campaign supported by Ambassador Nicole Avant and Netflix co-CEO and Academy Museum Board of Trustees chair Ted Sarandos, the Perenchio Foundation, Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey, with gifts from Patrick Soon-Shiong and Michele Soon-Shiong, among additional donors.
“It is an incredible honor to name our grand lobby — the nucleus of the Academy Museum — in celebration of Sir Sidney Poitier, whose legacy of humanitarian efforts and groundbreaking artistry continues to inspire us all,” said Academy Museum director Bill Kramer. “We are deeply thankful to everyone who supported this campaign, and to Sidney, his wife Joanna Shimkus Poitier, and their entire family for allowing us this great privilege.”
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, the Poitier Lobby — which has 24-foot ceilings — occupies the entire first floor of the restored and revitalized landmark Saban Building — formerly known as the May Company building — from Wilshire Boulevard at the South to the dramatic Walt Disney Company Piazza at the North.
Academy CEO Dawn Hudson recently announced that, due to COVID, the Museum will open at 50 percent capacity.