The Saint Louis Art Museum is one of the leading art museums in the US, housing more than 30,000 works of art. Its collections include works of exceptional quality from virtually every culture and time period. Its Beaux-Arts-style historic home in Forest Park was designed for the 1904 World’s Fair by architect Cass Gilbert.
The expansion will increase the Museum’s galleries and public spaces, providing new exhibition space for the Museum’s comprehensive collection, and also for touring exhibitions.
Image courtesy of the Saint Louis Art Museum. Published on March 01, 2013.
The design creates an addition to the east and south of the original 1904 building with a dark, polished concrete façade made using Missouri river aggregate. New galleries and public spaces are top-lit and have a number of floor-to-ceiling windows, inviting and providing views from both inside and outside.
The design organically links the expansion to the current structure by connecting to existing primary circulation axes. It features a new central staircase to more clearly connect the main level to a new, lower level public concourse serving an expanded café and the existing museum shop and auditorium. A new restaurant will overlook Forest Park to the north. All existing Museum surface parking will be relocated to a 300-space, three-level, below-grade parking garage. The project also includes a new restaurant and a new fully accessible front entrance.
Photo by Jacob Sharp. Published on March 01, 2013.
In total, the plan provides for 82,452 square feet of new galleries, public space and art support, and 128,979 square feet for below-grade parking. The Museum expects to break ground on the expansion project in late 2008, with completion anticipated in 2011. David Chipperfield said, “The Cass Gilbert building – the only remaining building from the 1904 World’s Fair – is integral to the Museum’s history and identity. We sought not only to maintain the building and its historic Sculpture Hall as the symbolic heart of the Museum, but also to create a strong relationship between landscape and architecture.”
Photo by Jacob Sharp. Published on March 01, 2013.
“David Chipperfield’s design pays thoughtful and elegant homage to Cass Gilbert while creating modern spaces to house the Museum’s extraordinary holdings of post-war art,” said Art Museum Director Brent R. Benjamin. “The expansion will enable St. Louisans to enjoy even more of our wonderful collection in a building that takes full advantage of the Museum’s magnificent setting in Forest Park.”
Photo by Jacob Sharp. Published on March 01, 2013.
© Simon Menges. Published on March 01, 2013.
© Simon Menges. Published on March 01, 2013.
Image courtesy of the Saint Louis Art Museum. Published on March 01, 2013.
Image courtesy of the Saint Louis Art Museum. Published on March 01, 2013.
The design creates an addition to the east and south of the original 1904 building with a dark, polished concrete façade made using Missouri river aggregate. (East View) - Image: Atelier 2007 © All rights reserved.
© David Chipperfield Architects . Published on November 07, 2007.
The expansion will increase the Museum's galleries and public spaces, providing new exhibition space for the Museum’s comprehensive collection. (New Gallery Space) - Image: Atelier 2007 © All rights reserved.
© David Chipperfield Architects . Published on November 07, 2007.
The project also includes a new fully accessible front entrance (New North Entrance) - Image: Atelier 2007 © All rights reserved.
© David Chipperfield Architects . Published on November 07, 2007.