Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Located above Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Philadelphia Museum of Art revamp, designed by Gehry Partners, houses more than 225,000 works of art acquired over its 125-year history.
The project was recently awarded with a 2020 International Architecture Award from The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and The Chicago Athenaeum.
As the size constraints of the Museum’s landmark Neoclassical home limit the display of this collection, an expansion and renovation was sought to modernize the existing galleries and add additional spaces and amenities.
The current master plan called for several phases of work, which will cumulatively expand the existing public space by approximately sixty percent.
The additions and upgrades will more closely interweave the Museum with the surrounding urban fabric of Philadelphia, while still preserving its classic exterior.
The Museum was re-oriented so the iconic East Terrace becomes the primary public face of the building, directing its focus out onto the city and neighborhood of nearby museums.
The Terrace itself was excavated to create 85,000 sqft of new gallery space beneath the plaza, illuminated with natural light from above.
These Contemporary Art and Special Exhibitions galleries feature 22-foot ceilings to permit large-scale works as well as state-of-the-art equipment for multimedia and new media installations.
An arcade running the length of the street level has opened to become the central artery of the new below-plaza galleries, while a multi-story atrium brings light to the lower levels and reinforces their connection with the main entry above.
At the apex of the building, new windows permit an attic-level space for special events or board meetings with panoramic views over the city, emphasizing the Museum’s relationship with its urban context.
The existing American and Asian galleries are completely renovated and expanded to permit more comprehensive presentations of these collections, while the Museum’s other galleries are modernized and the overall infrastructure and building systems are brought up to date.
A new Education Center opens directly onto the Plaza and helps children connect with the Museum in fresh and exciting ways.
Architects: Gehry Partners, LLP.
Original Architects: Horace Trumbauer and Zantzinger, Borie, and Medary (1928)
Client: Philadelphia Museum of Art
General Contractor: L. F. Driscoll Co., LLC