LA Entrepreneurs Seek to Inspire All People Through Excellence In the Arts and Sciences With the Completion of the First Samitaur Tower

LOS ANGELES, May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- For the past 35 years, Los Angeles entrepreneurs Frederick and Laurie Samitaur-Smith have been driven by a vision to improve the human condition: by developing blighted urban communities that, in turn, revitalize communities, create jobs and inspire all people, particularly underserved populations, through excellence in the arts and sciences. Their personal passion comes alive in the Los Angeles urban redevelopment projects that bear the Samitaur brand.

The Samitaur-Smith's latest humanity-enriching concept is designed to bring the arts and sciences to the masses, across all socio-economic levels, while creating a community space to gather and explore the many dimensions of culture.  The completion of the first Samitaur Tower, located at the corner of Hayden Avenue and National Boulevard in Los Angeles, represents the first of eight Towers planned across the City of Los Angeles along a new surface passenger railway system, the Exposition Light Rail Line, scheduled for completion in 2011. The Towers will serve as forums for meeting, discussing and exploring culture, simultaneously fostering greater awareness and appreciation for excellence in human achievement.

When the 72 foot tall Samitaur Tower I officially opens later this year, it will disseminate high-quality artistic and educational images from local, national and international artists on each of its five translucent rear-projection screens.  Pedestrians, passengers in cars and on trains will all have the opportunity to view its extraordinary content with an expected reach of two million people in the surrounding neighborhood alone.  

Beyond the images on screen, Tower I provides a full-range of programming including theatrical events and performances, lectures and panel discussions, literary readings, vintage and contemporary film screenings as well as festivals of the arts, which can be enjoyed from two open-air amphitheaters or from the beautifully landscaped lawn at the base of Tower, accommodating anywhere from 200 up to 3,500 people.  The steel decks of the multi-story structure and adjacent cafe can also be used for gathering and viewing.  In addition, neighboring exhibit space will feature collections on loan from private collectors and museum partners as well as works from accomplished and emerging artists.

Underscoring the Towers' core purpose, the Samitaur-Smiths are developing the most comprehensive website dedicated to the arts and sciences ever built to take their vision far beyond Los Angeles and engage the world in the Towers' experience.  "We're putting excellence in all its possible forms right in the face of our community and all people as a way to break through cycles of poverty, despair, drug use, violence and give people an alternative way to think about and express themselves," noted Laurie Samitaur-Smith.

Together, the Samitaur Towers and website create infinite reach and possibility, expanding the conceptual, physical and virtual interaction between culture and an unlimited audience, and thereby enriching the human experience.  

About Samitaur

Samitaur transcends the boundaries of limited thinking, challenging the complacency of the status quo with innovative ideas and excellence, to transform communities and the lives of people, particularly those traditionally underserved.  With a strong belief in the possible, Samitaur continues to create opportunity, through the development of blighted neighborhoods, such as Conjunctive Points, a mixed-use community of innovative workspace, theaters, exhibit halls, restaurants and parks; the building of breakthrough properties; the application of military technologies to medical care; and the advancement of cultural touch points.  Samitaur's projects have been displayed in international exhibitions, art galleries and museums including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles (MOCA), the Museum of Contemporary Art in Vienna (the MAK), and the Venice Biennale.  Samitaur has received hundreds of distinguished awards for their architectural, urban planning and public service achievements.  

About the Developers

Founders of Samitaur Constructs, owners/builders of Conjunctive Points and Samitaur Tower I and developers of future Towers, Frederick and Laurie Samitaur-Smith are passionate patrons of the arts who have infused their appreciation for the best in human achievement into their professional, business and personal endeavors.

SOURCE Samitaur