Crystal Bridges to Double in Size

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened its doors to the public in November 2011. Since then, it has welcomed more than 5 million visitors and averages around 500,000 a year. The museum started with around 1,500 artwork pieces and has since then doubled their collection. In planning for the future, Crystal Bridges recently announced a major expansion project that will double the facilities it has now. 

The proposed expansions include:

• Increasing the gallery space by 65% to feature 2 additional galleries
• More educational spaces and a dedicated community gathering space with art studios, maker spaces, and flexible facilities to engage creators of all ages and abilities
• A new bridge will connect the two galleries 
• A new cafe 
• A circular event plaza for outdoor community programs and performances

Crystal Bridges commissioned its original architect, Moshe Safdie of Safdie Architects, to design the expansion project. Similar to the current building design, regionally-sourced materials such as concrete, timber, and fieldstone will be utilized throughout the project. While the project is still currently in the design phase, it is expected to commence construction early 2022 with a completion goal by 2024.

Check out the renderings below provided by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art