Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Expansion, Kansas

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art plans a $170 million expansion and seeks international design talent to lead the project.

The 61,000-square-foot expansion will include a new building housing a photography center, new gallery exhibits, a “black box-style” theater, art activity learning and engagement spaces, and a restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining. The project will also renovate the original Nelson-Atkins building and its surrounding outdoor space.

The project aims to integrate the museum’s campus — the two existing buildings and the 22-acre Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park — into a cohesive new experience.

Museum director and CEO Julián Zugazagoitia said in the news release, “This expansion solidifies the Nelson-Atkins’ foundational desire to reach all audiences, particularly those unfamiliar with art. It will enable the museum to better serve our community, and I envision a vibrant space where visitors become energized by art and immerse themselves in new and creative experiences.”

The Nelson-Atkins plans to fund the $160 million to $170 million expansion through private donations from a campaign launching next year. The museum doesn’t receive tax dollars to fund projects or operations.

The museum also launched a design competition to select an architect. It invites applications from local, regional, national and international architecture firms. The museum will shortlist up to five teams and give them $75,000 for their design work. The museum will display concept designs from finalists publicly in the spring and ask for community feedback.

Nelson-Atkins most recent expansion project

The Nelson-Atkins conducted a similar design competition for its most recent expansion project in the early 2000s, which resulted in the museum’s Bloch Building. Architect Steven Holl designed the 165,000-square-foot building, constructed over six years. When it opened in 2007, it increased the museum’s permanent collection space by 71%.

First stage of the competition

For the first stage of the competition, design teams must submit plans outlining their project approach by Oct. 29.

Malcolm Reading Consultants, a global architect search firm based in London, will organize the competition.

Kathleen Leighton, a museum spokesperson, said the museum will establish a timeline for the fundraising campaign depending on the design competition results and the museum’s other needs.

Museum officials said in a press release, “Strategically, the museum’s Board of Trustees intends to expand the conventions of the museum, making it a more dynamic, open, and inviting place; a place where everyone feels they belong.” They noted the effort would join the campus, its sculpture park and two existing buildings into a “cohesive new experience.”

Zugazagoitia said the Nelson-Atkins Museum expansion aims to attract new audiences and design a center that speaks to the community.

“We have goals to be the museum for all, and we have many different ways to articulate it,” Zugazagoitia said. “For instance, how can each visitor see themselves inside the museum?”

Zugazagoitia said the new structure needs to translate the community’s evolving and increasing needs into architecture, as the museum serves a broad region.

The project would mark the museum’s third major evolution. Zugazagoitia said it partially responds to growing and increasingly diverse attendance, and the need to serve future generations.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Expansion Project Factsheet

Project Overview

Estimated Cost: $160-170 million

Expansion Size: 61,000 square feet

Funding Source: Private donations (campaign launching next year)

Key Features

New building housing:

Photography center
New gallery exhibits
“Black box-style” theater
Art activity learning and engagement spaces
Restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining
Renovations to the original Nelson-Atkins building
Improvements to surrounding outdoor space
Integration of existing campus (two buildings and 22-acre Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park)

Project Goals

Reach new and diverse audiences

Better serve the community

Create a more dynamic, open, and inviting space

Enhance visitor experience with art

Design Competition

Open to local, regional, national, and international architecture firms

Up to five shortlisted teams

Public display of concept designs in spring

Community feedback to be solicited