The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City is giving the public a chance to shape its future. Six competing design proposals for the museum’s expansion project are now on display. The public can review and provide feedback on these proposals over the next month.
The expansion will create more gallery, programming, and visitor spaces. This will help the museum serve as a cultural hub for the region. “We want a museum that is more transparent, more welcoming, and one that you can make your own,” said Julián Zugazagoitia, the museum’s director and CEO.
The six finalists were chosen from 182 teams from 30 countries. They are all well-known architectural firms with impressive portfolios and visionary ideas. Kengo Kuma & Associates from Tokyo drew inspiration from the Midwest’s prairies, riverbeds, and bluffs for their proposal.
Renzo Piano Building Workshop from Genoa wants to create a transparent, light-filled pavilion. Selldorf Architects from New York plans to integrate the museum with its surroundings through a transparent and flexible new West Building. Weiss/Manfredi from New York focuses on enhancing the sculpture park with expanded educational, performance, and dining spaces in their “A Connected Tapestry” plan.
Public gets to shape expansion
Studio Gang from Chicago proposes the “Art Bluff” wing to merge the museum with the sculpture park. WHY Architecture from Los Angeles introduces a new entry pavilion and Sky Wing in their concept called “The Hug: A Museum That Embraces.
The designs are showcased in an exhibit titled “Building Belonging: Designing the Future of the Nelson-Atkins.” It opens on March 15 and runs through June 1.
Visitors can see 3D models, video animations, and detailed descriptions of each proposal. The museum wants feedback from visitors to help guide the final selection. John Morgan from Malcolm Reading Consultants has led the finalist selection process.
The museum’s Architect Selection Committee, chaired by Evelyn Craft Belger, will announce the winning design in late spring 2025. The project’s estimated $160 million construction budget will be funded entirely through private donations. Zugazagoitia stressed the importance of using new technologies and modernizing the museum for future generations.
“Generations of kids today are digital natives that expect a lot, and are creating in the digital realm,” he said. Attendance at the museum has doubled since its last expansion 18 years ago. This shows the need for this ambitious new project.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art hopes to offer enriching programs and a more inclusive space for all as it looks to the future.
