Griffith Observatory is a key Los Angeles landmark and one of the world's major planetaria. Since it opened in 1935 the institution has pioneered public education in science through planetarium programming, exhibitions, astronomical instruments, and special events. Meléndrez designed the landscape architecture during this significant restoration effort. Overall, the project included the design of a 35,000 s.f. under ground expansion to house temporary and permanent exhibition areas, offices, classrooms, a cafe, gift shop and the new Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater- a 202-seat theater/lecture hall. The 306-seat multi-media planetarium theater was remodeled with advanced technology for enhanced show presentations, and the popular hall of science was refurbished and expanded with new interactive exhibits. A glass meridian wall at the new west terrace provides a spectacular display of the constellations when sunlight strikes the meridian line each day.