The American Center, a Museum and Research Institute, was designed for the study of "What it means to be an American". Located in the heart of Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, the design began with a study of the complex relationships between immigrant communities in the greater Los Angeles area centering on an in-depth examination of the tragic internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. In its design, the American Center addresses the universal implications and lessons of the Japanese-American experience to today's society.