The single-story structure features dramatically expanded exhibition space, whose galleries are illuminated by natural light. The aluminum-clad exterior is surrounded by exquisite outdoor gardens showcasing large-scale sculpture. The new building will house about 750 works of art.
The main feature of the facility is the abundant use of natural light. The skin of the building made of 50% glass, allows ample sunlight into the interiors. Protective elements such as ultraviolet filters, louvers and curtains are also featured in the design.
The expansion project has also transformed the museum’s 1983 East Building, designed by the eminent architect Edward Durell Stone, into a dynamic center for temporary exhibitions, education and public programs and public events as well as a place for collections management and other administrative functions.
The 164-acre campus is expected to be the nation’s largest art museum park, with walking paths, bike trails, ecological projects conceived with artists, and site-specific commissioned works of art in a rolling green landscape. The museum broke ground for the expansion project in December 2006.
