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Museum Renovations Across America

Even the most time-honored institutions can sometimes use a facelift. These venerable museums across the country are being revitalized with modern renovations.

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Crocker Museum Architect: Gwathmey Siegel Architects Location: San Francisco, California
Crocker Museum Architect: Gwathmey Siegel Architects Location: San Francisco, California
University of Michigan Art Museum
University of Michigan Art Museum
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Rooftop Garden in San Francisco, California. Designed by Jensen Architects/Jensen & Macy Architects. Winner of the 2011 Institute Honor Award for Architecture. Project description: "The SFMOMA’s rooftop garden is an open-air gallery defined by the intersection of sculpture, space and light. The entire back wall of the museum’s top floor is removed, allowing a seamless connection from gallery to garden. A large panoramic window at this new opening offers an elevated view to the garden, presenting it like a landscape painting inside the gallery. A glazed long-span bridge links the museum to a garden pavilion that in turn opens out to the garden through large sliding glass panels."
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Rooftop Garden in San Francisco, California. Designed by Jensen Architects/Jensen & Macy Architects. Winner of the 2011 Institute Honor Award for Architecture. Project description: "The SFMOMA’s rooftop garden is an open-air gallery defined by the intersection of sculpture, space and light. The entire back wall of the museum’s top floor is removed, allowing a seamless connection from gallery to garden. A large panoramic window at this new opening offers an elevated view to the garden, presenting it like a landscape painting inside the gallery. A glazed long-span bridge links the museum to a garden pavilion that in turn opens out to the garden through large sliding glass panels."
From the outside peering in at the new Special Exhibition Gallery in the Piano wing. The Living Room visitor orientation space sits below.
From the outside peering in at the new Special Exhibition Gallery in the Piano wing. The Living Room visitor orientation space sits below.
With more than 400 objects, the Indianapolis Museum of Art's contemporary design collection is among the largest of its kind in North America. Photo by Eric Lubrick.
With more than 400 objects, the Indianapolis Museum of Art's contemporary design collection is among the largest of its kind in North America. Photo by Eric Lubrick.
The Clark Art Institute's tiered reflecting pools were conceived by Tadao Ando and developed by Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture. Image courtesy of the Clark Art Institute.
The Clark Art Institute's tiered reflecting pools were conceived by Tadao Ando and developed by Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture. Image courtesy of the Clark Art Institute.
Here's a look at what the tall structure would look like from a terrace atop the existing building. The wooden facade is a nod back to the origins of this 1860s mining town, though its form is hardly nostalgic. Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
Here's a look at what the tall structure would look like from a terrace atop the existing building. The wooden facade is a nod back to the origins of this 1860s mining town, though its form is hardly nostalgic. Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
As part of the Getty’s Pacific Standard Time Presents: Modern Architecture in L.A., LACMA features The Presence of the Past: Peter Zumthor Reconsiders LACMA, an exhibition about the proposed future of the museum's campus. Installation view, The Presence of the Past: Peter Zumthor reconsiders LACMA, June 9–September 15, 2013. Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Photo ©2013 Museum Associates/LACMA
As part of the Getty’s Pacific Standard Time Presents: Modern Architecture in L.A., LACMA features The Presence of the Past: Peter Zumthor Reconsiders LACMA, an exhibition about the proposed future of the museum's campus. Installation view, The Presence of the Past: Peter Zumthor reconsiders LACMA, June 9–September 15, 2013. Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Photo ©2013 Museum Associates/LACMA
The Forum will be the heart of the revamped museum, providing sight lines through the ground-floor and first-floor galleries that will simplify the flow among the exhibition spaces. Rendering copyright Gehry Partners LLP.
The Forum will be the heart of the revamped museum, providing sight lines through the ground-floor and first-floor galleries that will simplify the flow among the exhibition spaces. Rendering copyright Gehry Partners LLP.