The Team Behind the Gottlieb Transit Corridor

Both scientific and architectural in nature, the Gottlieb Transit Corridor is the product of a dedicated team of experts. Griffith Observatory Director Dr. Ed Krupp originally conceived of and developed the concept for the Transit Corridor as a new astronomical instrument.

Bruce Bohannan, Ph.D. (Corridor and Instrument Scientist)

Dr. Bruce Bohannan provided the scientific guidance for detailed design and development of both the corridor and the instrument components. In 2001, he developed the requirements document and performance standards (updated in 2005) for the corridor and instrument elements and continues to guide development of instrument graphics and content.

Dr. Bohannan graduated from the University of Alberta (B.Sc., chemistry) and the University of California at Los Angeles (M.A. and Ph.D., astronomy). From 1991 to 2002, at Kitt Peak National Observatory, he was operations manager for the mountaintop and project scientist. Earlier at the University of Colorado, he was the director of Sommers-Bausch Observatory and, at times, the Fiske Planetarium. His research centers on observational studies of the evolution of massive stars. Personal pursuits include large-format digital photography and a study of how photography revolutionized 19th-century astronomy.

Pfeiffer Partners, Inc. (Corridor Architect)

Pfeiffer Partners served as the lead architect for the renovation and expansion project. In that role, they worked closely with Dr. Krupp and Dr. Bohannan to refine the design for the glass corridor, meridian line, and monolith.

Pfeiffer Partners, Inc., formerly the west coast office of Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates (HHPA), is an internationally recognized architectural, planning, and interior design firm with offices in Los Angeles and New York. With a strong focus on creating buildings for public and educational use?including museums, libraries, theaters, and academic facilities, as well as the renovation of historic structures - the firm's experience includes the award-winning renovation and expansion of the Los Angeles Public Library: Central Library and the new Colburn School of Performing Arts, both in downtown Los Angeles. Pfeiffer Partners? work with historic structures includes the development of rehabilitation master plans for Los Angeles Union Station and Warner Hollywood Studios, as well as the renovation of seven buildings at Stanford University, including the centerpiece of its historic quad, Memorial Church.

Davidson Norris (Instrument Architect)

Davidson Norris, a practicing architect and co-principle along with James Carpenter of Carpenter Norris Consulting (CNC), is designing the Gottlieb Transit Corridor instrument, including the foil, meridian arc, and ecliptic chart. Norris has broad experience in technical analysis of daylighting issues, an important aspect of this outdoor exhibit. CNC has served as daylighting consultants on a wide range of projects from museums (The Guggenheim) to courthouses (the Bronx Criminal Courthouse), office buildings (Hoffman LaRoche Administration Building), convention centers (Austin Convention Center Extension), laboratories (Novartis) and urban parks (Tear Drop Park).

A graduate of the Yale School of Architecture, Norris teaches sustainable design at Columbia School of Architecture and architectural daylighting at Yale and Columbia Schools of Architecture. Norris has received numerous awards for his work, including from the U.S. Department of Energy, the New York Foundation for the Arts, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the International Association of Lighting designers.

Robert J. and Suzanne Gottlieb (Benefactors)

Although Robert J. Gottlieb considered himself a "native Californian," he was born and raised in Far Rockaway, New York. When he was ten years old, his parents moved the family to Los Angeles. A graduate of the University of Southern California and Southwestern Law School, Gottlieb went on to become a renowned attorney whose automotive clients included Cadillac, General Motors, and Petersen Publishing. One of the world's foremost classic car authorities, Gottlieb contributed his editorial expertise to several automotive magazines, including his long-running column "Classical Comments" in Motor Trend magazine.

Born in the Philippines and raised in the southern U.S., Suzanne Gottlieb met her husband in 1952 at Trend, Inc., where she worked as a secretary. Married for more than 40 years, the Gottliebs generously championed numerous projects, including a $2 million gift benefiting the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. Mrs. Gottlieb is excited to be a part of Griffith Observatory's renewal. She personally chose the Transit Corridor because it allows visitors to track the motions of the Sun through direct observation and creates an immediate and intimate connection with the sky. "The reopening of the Griffith Observatory is so exciting," notes Mrs. Gottlieb. "I am delighted to be a part of this grand event which is sure to inspire visitors from around the world." Though Robert Gottlieb passed away in 2002, Mrs. Gottlieb knows his legacy lives on.