March 14, 2005

Images courtesy Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art is getting a sleek new look thanks to New York architect Rafael Vinoly, FAIA. The museum's 89-year-old complex is undergoing a $258-million, six-year expansion and renovation starting in September. Vinoly's design calls for demolishing half of the museum, and building new wings on the east and west sides.

The two areas will be connected by a soaring glass-covered "piazza," creating a central, unifying light-filled space. Meanwhile, the museum's original 1916 Beaux Arts building and its 1971 Marcel Breuer-designed addition will be renovated. The permanent collection galleries are scheduled to close by June, with the entire museum shutting down from January to June 2006. The two-phase project will increase the museum's overall size to 588,000 square feet, including 36,000 square feet more gallery space and 650 additional parking slots. The $160-million first phase is scheduled to open in late 2008, followed by the $98-million second phase in 2011.

By Tony Illia

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