In the competition, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art unveiled the six finalists teams to change the museum with a dynamic, open and inviting design. The aim of the expansion project is to attract a new audience by creating living spaces for more art and new immersive and interactive creative experiences for the community.
The concepts developed by some of the most respected designers who work today in museum architecture can now be displayed in an online gallery on the competitive website under competition. Malcolmreading.com/nelson-atkins/gallery. You can also hear in a free exhibition in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Building: Designing the Future of Nelson-Athins, which are now opened until June 1st. The public is invited to comment on the exhibition or through the nelson-atkins.org/architecture competent portal.
“We asked for courageous, inspiring movements that also respected the existing museum campus, and I am so happy to say that we received them in these first designs,” said Julián Zugazagoitia, director and CEO of the Nelson-Atkins. The teams have deleted their thoughts on our big questions: How do we synthesize our existing icons with a new proposal? How do we modernize and include the future, but keep the best of our history? And above all how we create a museum that is transparent for everyone and conveys a feeling of belonging and well -being? “
The museum's selection committee (ASC) will meet in the late spring to interview the finalists and give the board of trustees a recommendation. After the ratification and the appointment of the winning team, the selected design in close partnership with the museum and its stakeholders, including the local communities, is refined.
The museum's board of trustees aims to expand the museum's conventions – offers free general approval – and thus develops further as a place where everyone has the feeling. The project will integrate the campus, Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park and the two existing buildings into a coherent new experience.
The first phase of the competition that started in October 2024 attracted 182 teams from 30 countries to six continents.