

harvard art museums expansion by renzo piano nears completion

photo by peter vanderwarker

all images courtesy of harvard art museums

the renovation and expansion of ‘harvard art museums‘ is nearing completion in cambridge, massachusetts. built on the current site of the fogg museum at quincy street, the unifying structure will contain the renowned school’s three art museums – the fogg, busch-reisinger and the arthur m. sackler museum. designed by renzo piano building workshop, the plan will provide an additional 12,000 square feet (1,115 square meters) of gallery space.

articulated around the existing museums’ restored courtyard, the facility integrates the 1920s georgian revival building with a glazed rooftop structure that connects the scheme. this addition controls natural light entering the atrium, as well as adjacent art study centers and galleries.



the expansion provides an additional 12,000 square feet of gallery space

photo by peter vanderwarker

ensuring that the remodeling returns the architecture to its original state, all modifications made after 1927 have been demolished, while each aspect of the historic building – structural, mechanical and technical – have been restored and upgraded. placed at a more prominent location on level four, the art study centers within the design have been significantly refurbished. above, the conservation lab will continue to occupy the top storey beneath the sloping glazed canopy. public amenities and support spaces for special events have been enlarged and modernized, including a 300 seat auditorium at basement level.



the structure will contain the school’s 3 museums – the fogg, busch-reisinger and the arthur m. sackler museum

photo by harvard art museums

reorienting access to the museums, a new entrance from prescott street symbolically opens the building to the community, while external views from the courtyard help ground the structure and provide a distinct sense of place. the project is scheduled to open on november 16, 2014, eight years after piano’s original plans were floated.

for designboom’s previous coverage of ‘harvard art museums’, see here.



a new entrance from prescott street symbolically opens the building to the community

aerial photo by lesvants.com



the glazed rooftop structure controls natural light entering the design

aerial photo by lesvants.com



the program is articulated around the existing museum’s restored courtyard

photos by peter vanderwarker



all areas within the design have undergone significant refurbishment

photo by zak jensen



currently under conservation, the art study center is located on the fourth floor

photo by peter vanderwarker



looking down to the historic courtyard below

photo by peter atkinson



‘harvard art museums’ is scheduled to open on november 16, 2014

photo by peter vanderwarker