Annenberg Foundation to Present "A Day at AltaSea"

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Annenberg Foundation today announced plans to host on February 11 "A Day at AltaSea" -- a special celebration of AltaSea's key visionary and champion, and a preview of the future innovation and education hub for Los Angeles. 

Wallis Annenberg, Chairman, President and CEO of the Annenberg Foundation will begin the celebration with a dedication of the newly named "Leonard Aube Way"-- the avenue approaching AltaSea -- followed immediately by a news-making announcement and a dynamic immersive exhibition of the ambitious plans for the AltaSea campus. Signaling the significance of Annenberg's announcement, she will be joined by Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Joe Buscaino for the ceremony.

"The Ocean may be the most precious public resource we have, a life source unlike any other on the planet," said Wallis Annenberg. "AltaSea is about uniting business, academia, and our scientific community to turn the Port of LA's public waterfront into the mecca for jobs and discovery and sustainability that it should be.  I'm excited to share some of our newest plans, and I'm especially pleased that we'll be dedicating 'Leonard Aube Way' to my great friend and the Executive Director of the Annenberg Foundation, Leonard Aube."

Leonard J. Aube, Executive Director of the Annenberg Foundation, has made a career of making the world a better place.  Together with the Directors of the Annenberg Foundation, Aube has guided the Foundation in awarding over $2 billion in grants to nearly 2,500 organizations in 38 countries.  Aube's visionary leadership resulted in the creation of a number of public-private partnerships, the most recent one being an unprecedented partnership with the Port of Los Angeles that will bring AltaSea to fruition.  On February 11, in recognition of Aube's tireless efforts to establish this transformative ocean-based innovation hub, "Leonard Aube Way" – a section of 22^nd Street between Signal Street and Miner Street -- will be unveiled in his honor.

An Innovation Hub for Los Angeles

In 2013, the City Council approved a lease agreement to transform a pier on the LA Waterfront in San Pedro into an ocean-based innovation hub called AltaSea.  Bringing together science, business and education to generate innovative solutions to the global challenges of sustainability, AltaSea is located on an iconic 35-acre campus in the Port of Los Angeles and will demonstrate how integral the ocean is to the well-being of humankind and the health of the earth.

AltaSea will provide a new path for economic development and generate international capital and creativity in the busiest port of our nation.  It is uniquely positioned to address pressing environmental issues and become a major player in the long-overdue revitalization of the Harbor area. 

Phase One is estimated to create 4,200 temporary jobs, 1,350 permanent jobs and generate $290 million in increased economic activity annually.  Ultimately, AltaSea is estimated to create more than $1.17 billion in increased economic activity.  AltaSea will also support new and existing businesses that commercialize scientific breakthroughs and emerging technologies to create ocean-related products and services.  Once completed, AltaSea will be the only urban, ocean-based ideas and innovation center in the world.  

Schedule for the Community Celebration

"A Day at AltaSea" will begin at 11:00 a.m. PST with remarks by key supporters of AltaSea, including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Councilman Joe Buscaino.  Following their remarks, Wallis Annenberg will make a special announcement with the intent to rally Los Angeles around this unique and transformative project.

Attendees will then move into a simulated area to experience an immersive multimedia display of the physical plans for the state-of-the-art marine research campus.  The elaborate experience will tell the story of how a timeworn 100-year-old pier will be transformed into an iconic landmark whose arresting architectural design will make it an important symbol for the Los Angeles region and all it has to offer. 

At 4:00 p.m. PST, the site will be opened to all members of the community to share in the immersive experience, to view the plans, and enjoy entertainment and complimentary offerings from local San Pedro restaurants.  This portion of the day is a part of the continuing effort to keep the community apprised of the project.  Once completed, AltaSea will also offer community amenities such as an expansive outdoor recreational space and public harbor promenade, as well as a soaring glass public interpretative educational center.

About the Annenberg Foundation

The Annenberg Foundation is a family foundation that provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations in the United States and globally. Since 1989, it has generously funded programs in education and youth development; arts, culture and humanities; civic and community life; health and human services; and animal services and the environment. In addition, the foundation and its Board of Directors are directly involved in the community with several projects that expand and complement its grant support to nonprofits. Among them are Annenberg Alchemy, Annenberg Learner, Annenberg Space for Photography, Explore, GRoW and the Metabolic Studio. The Annenberg Foundation exists to advance public well-being through improved communication and visionary leadership. As the principal means of achieving this goal, the Foundation encourages the development of more effective ways to share ideas and knowledge.

About AltaSea

AltaSea is a public-private partnership that brings together science, business and education to generate innovative solutions to global sustainability issues.  AltaSea will redevelop 35 acres at the Port of Los Angeles into a unique ocean-based campus that will work to demonstrate how the ocean directly contributes to the well-being of humankind and the health of the earth. Planning and permitting for Phase One Development has begun, with construction to begin in 2017 and will be completed by 2019. The campus will be comprised of three industry-focused hubs: a world-class science hub dedicated to expanding knowledge about the ocean, which will become the permanent home of the Southern California Marine Institute; a business hub that will accelerate creation of new and existing businesses that commercialize scientific breakthroughs and emerging technologies to create ocean-related products and services; and a groundbreaking education hub which includes an outreach center for policymakers, stakeholders, transformational thinkers, students K-12 and the public.

The total project budget is $217 million based on the approved master plan.  To date, AltaSea has secured $26.5 million from the The Annenberg Foundation, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation and The Crail-Johnson Foundation toward the $160 million private funding goal, with other major donations to be announced in early 2015. This private funding will be coupled with a projected $57 million from the Port of Los Angeles.  A 50-year master lease for the 35-acre site requires $53.25 million to be raised by the 1st Quarter of 2017 for the Port to begin construction and ensure occupancy by the end of 2019 for the Phase One facilities. 

SOURCE Annenberg Foundation

Related Links

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