The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art today revealed the concepts from six finalist teams in the competition to transform the museum with a dynamic, open, and welcoming design. The goal of the expansion project is to attract new audiences by creating vibrant spaces that house more art and new, immersive, and interactive creative experiences for the community.
The concepts, conceived by some of the most respected studios in museum architecture today, are now available in an online gallery on the competition website. They can also be seen in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's free exhibition, "Building Belonging: Designing the Future of the Nelson-Atkins," which opens March 15 through June 1, 2025.
The competition, based on which the new exhibition which includes the proposals for Kengo Kuma & Associates (Tokyo), Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Genoa), Selldorf Architects (New York), Studio Gang (Chicago), Weiss/Manfredi Architecture (New York), and WHY Architecture (Los Angeles), focuses on a new expansion (or set of expansions) of approximately 5,600 square meters, along with a partial renovation of the original Nelson-Atkins building, as well as the activation and expansion of the outdoor campus, all within a thoughtful sustainability strategy.
Opening toward the street. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art the finalists. Rendering by Kengo Kuma and Associates and Malcolm Reading Consultants.
The museum's Architectural Selection Committee (ASC) will meet in late spring to interview the finalists and present a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. Following ratification and appointment of the winning team, the selected design will be refined in close collaboration with the museum and its stakeholders, including local communities. The museum's Board of Trustees seeks to expand the museum's conventions (which offer free general admission) so that it continues to evolve as a place where everyone feels at home. The project will integrate the campus, the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park, and the two existing buildings into a cohesive new experience.
"These six conceptual designs articulate six unique visions of a new and even more dynamic Nelson-Atkins. This is an exciting time for the museum and our community as we begin to envision an identity that will carry us for decades to come."
Evelyn Craft Belger, Chair of the museum's Board of Trustees and Architectural Selection Committee.
South Plinth Landscape and Photo Galleries. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art the finalists. Rendering by WHY Architecture and Malcolm Reading Consultants.
The museum, located in Kansas City, Missouri, is nationally and internationally recognized and serves a broad region within a 300-mile radius. The museum is undertaking this new project in response to the growing needs of its community, the growing and diverse audience, the desire to showcase more art and collections, and the aspiration to serve future generations in transformative ways.
“We encouraged our community to visit the exhibition and share their ideas: what proposal best reflects their aspirations? We solicited bold and inspiring proposals that were also respectful of the museum’s existing campus, and I am extremely pleased to say that we received them in these initial designs.
Each of these is a fascinating response to a complex project brief; together, they bring a wide variety of perspectives. The teams have focused their ideas on our big questions: how do we synthesize our existing icons with a new proposal? How do we modernize and embrace the future, preserving the best of our history? And, above all, how do we create a transparent museum for everyone that inspires a sense of belonging and well-being?"
Julián Zugazagoitia, Director and CEO of Nelson-Atkins.
Rozzelle Court. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art the finalists. Rendering by Kengo Kuma and Associates and Malcolm Reading Consultants.
Presented alongside this exhibition is "Director's Highlights: Celebrating 90 Years of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art," which captures the richness and variety of the museum's collection, told through the eyes of the curators and Zugazagoitia himself. It includes approximately 200 works of art organized by the decade in which they entered the museum. Compelling stories, images, and colorful anecdotes accompany each work, along with historical photos and floor plans.
Highlights of the new expansion(s) include a welcoming main entrance and lobby, a comprehensive photography center, new exhibition galleries, learning and engagement spaces for hands-on art activities, a black-box theater for digital art and immersive programming, and a restaurant for indoor and outdoor dining and events.
The estimated construction budget (funded entirely by private donations) is part of a larger, comprehensive campaign that will begin in 2025. This campaign is anticipated to be the largest investment in art in Kansas City in recent years, contributing to the city's future vibrancy and vitality. The museum receives no public funding for operations or capital projects.
The competition process is led by an Architectural Selection Committee, chaired by Evelyn Craft Belger, also chair of the museum's Board of Trustees. The full list of selection committee members is below.
