![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9WxB0wL1fbMnxsJllDO5HWbpJecKpOfpH-B6QedOBzSnyYaLjzNCU1Dl1rmR5Juqs5_RFxfocmcEFrXlD5_w6QjIWZaQnnFml9nH-0Bo-FFdc_oaga7erqzZ3V1CUrOZcBmxMY6DZ7A/s400/2+CNSI+UCLA+California+NanoSystems+Institue.jpg)
One of the most unique modern buildings buildings in Los Angeles is the California NanoSystems Institute located on the UCLA campus.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSq_NQK0H7MDz7BgzQiK6DH-R8NUCRtKRzdPHCPg99o5pt5zUkouU7e-6jZjpv6A-z8eCccybn2InhdxRl_CgnrdN45iE7CWTb0JDMFSWRxoguoLtLPt5ujh2w2OkvCzl0eN4kc3ldfK4/s400/4+CNSI+UCLA+California+NanoSystems+Institue.jpg)
I walked by the exterior of this building for years - having no idea what the interior courtyard (pictured) looked like.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0i9h8Gyp4OaEDLtnTJ7F3eVvMpzC04qlP_RfskiTocL4toZG7Q2XjGCAObHI18o3725wkX6c_LTD6eij-3u9b65WVwjTcf02Xt4iCht0Z4v-vGQlSgj4UsM5xcN-WJT3LpdoyEI3SlY/s400/3+CNSI+UCLA+California+NanoSystems+Institue.jpg)
Taking a shortcut earlier this year while on campus - I discovered the CNSI's interior courtyard with it's six different bridges connecting different random floors and parts of the building to each other.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfRmJG1XYdmXsI27TQrdv172zuCZBbSI66TrNaWWu6rKuMwn-ys0HIC9I6GBFzIak0bfAkug7zh_oBlcVCxMuVEMAqq2w1YFjGWRFenRpq4Mw42wg6K2Jn90hVF3yhDilMb6K-kGYzZQ/s400/California+NanoSysterms+Institute,+UCLA.png)
Here's a arial view from google earth, where you can see the six different bridges. To the right is the UCLA south campus "court of the sciences."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59nS7mVSY2r-XpFQjIt4w9k0r69K22R6wRnk-YW5fsTRLJ2vbr2gQNgoIRmIMlgiTHKteqxrRJXEJjOgsSPmM_TSCveDbSMUrXz0cLnfupAcfSpIrL5nKfB5oMGFSfwri14rjzmO91B0/s400/11+CNSI+UCLA+California+NanoSystems+Institue.jpg)
The interior courtyard isn't really a courtyard.
This being Los Angeles, it's a parking lot.
You can see how the entire western side of the building cantilevers over the parking lot area - a pretty impressive feat of engineering.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULtODk3THd3e8trsuOZMmhVUYHE-yVrzN0MnUsdOqyLoxW7DVYXCWxHJdGcGhCcbsQ8AarKZe5j5BfY7lIc8SKVgWD1mUMQ-TY-cJdLhJ1i2DotuLpOUNPSaDfjTvhQYEJO3izdTS_7E/s400/7+CNSI+UCLA+California+NanoSystems+Institue.jpg)
Another shot of the bridges. It felt like a movie set.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_lBNfc8rTliC15QfsBzN3ZrJ3Rhj6J6fw0YI5HC01xiVZWNbqee7w8ge6plqnIPbqOeYtW6OO_Vqy4-ufm0P6B7OMI8UnDvvrsNPVr-np_wdsNrArBdVe0eRmRz40dhdeODHcsvHasU/s400/8+CNSI+UCLA+California+NanoSystems+Institue.jpg)
From up above, you get another perspective. As this is a working research facility, access to several of the bridges was limited. I think it was OK walking around and taking pictures, but I didn't want to walk across a bridge only to find the door on the other side locked.
Thinking about it, I don't think I saw anyone walking on any of them the entire time I was there. That doesn't mean they're never used - but they did seem under used.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPoK8PScivDIqQBnGg5r1Horm52ufMe5PjwzQo8OlaKix5O7ESwmLsN6gQr78CpEZKB4Wd1kNzMhD1g2bDBI4hAG63yJ6TsjBU5hgYSAW6UCwTC7jZFTFlD845trh4aLihq6RJUjE0pY/s400/9+CNSI+UCLA+California+NanoSystems+Institue.jpg)
A final shot.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPoK8PScivDIqQBnGg5r1Horm52ufMe5PjwzQo8OlaKix5O7ESwmLsN6gQr78CpEZKB4Wd1kNzMhD1g2bDBI4hAG63yJ6TsjBU5hgYSAW6UCwTC7jZFTFlD845trh4aLihq6RJUjE0pY/s400/9+CNSI+UCLA+California+NanoSystems+Institue.jpg)
A final shot.
Apparently, the CSNI building is a "secure facility" (their words) but offers tours by appointment: cnsi411@ucla.edu.
While maybe not worth a special trip, the California NanoSystems Institute is worth stopping by and seeing if you're any where near UCLA.
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2 comments:
Hi David,
Nice shots of what we at CNSI affectionately call the "Harry Potter Walking Bridges." The CNSI building is a secure facility, but we offer tours of the building by appointment. If you or any of your readers would like a tour, feel free to request one during business hours by emailing cnsi411@cnsi.ucla.edu.
Best,
Mike
Mike Rodewald
Marketing & Communications
California NanoSystems Institute, UCLA
www.cnsi.ucla.edu/nanoConnect
thanks, Mike - I added that info to the blog post
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