Baltimore Museum of Art Major Renovations
The BMA embarked on a three-year phased capital renovation, completed in conjunction with the Museum’s 100th anniversary, to improve the visitor’s experience, upgrade and modernize the aging infrastructure, and reconfigure behind-the-scenes work areas to support the Museum’s service to the community. The historic Merrick entry is reopened, allowing visitors to experience the museum the way John Russell Pope intended. Improved mechanical systems maintain the conservation environment within.
Client
Baltimore Museum of Art
Location
Baltimore, MD
Size
40,000 sf
Completed
2015
Just inside the front doors, the historic Fox Court is restored with new lighting and discretely integrated life safety systems. The adjacent American Galleries are reorganized and renovated with new materials and lighting that respond to the original Pope Galleries.
A complete re-design of the East Lobby transforms the visitor’s experience. The awkwardly-placed original main stair is relocated to the east, adjacent to a new, full height, gracefully curved wall that delineates the new retail space, opening and providing a large contiguous space for events. The interior finishes introduce a material palette that is contemporary, refined and elegant, while at the same time durable and timeless.
“
It is clear that the experience of the visitor is central to the project’s design goals. The transformation of the entry and reopening of the original entrance is outstanding. It is very hard to insert new elements, systems, and materials in a way that doesn’t detract from the art. This takes a thoughtful designer...
AIA Baltimore Jury Comment
Beyond the lobby on the lower level, the renovations bring significant improvements for visitors, including much needed upgrades in essential life safety infrastructure, while a state-of-the-art building automation system improves care of the 90,000 works of art in the Museum’s world-class collection. Reorganization of the First Floor references Pope’s gallery design on the Second Floor and introduces galleries that establish order with new axial relationships, raised ceilings, clarified proportions, and refreshed gallery spaces for BMA’s treasured collections of African and Asian Art.
Design Team
Steve Ziger
Douglas Bothner
Darragh Brady
Daniel Carter
Katherine LePage
Miharu Morimoto
Consultants
Owner's Representative – Synthesis, Inc.
Mechanical / Electrical Engineer – Mueller Associates
Structural Engineer – Morabito Consultants
Fire Protection/Code – GHD
Lighting Designer – FLUX Studio
AV/IT Designer – Convergent Technologies
Photography
Karl Connolly
Awards
2017 Citation Award – AIA Maryland
2016 Grand Design Award – AIA Baltimore
2016 Design Award – AIA Baltimore
Publications
"The Baltimore Museum of Art Opens Its New American Wing," Wall Street Journal 11/2014
"New day at the BMA as it reopens the American Wing, turns 100," Baltimore Sun 11/2014
"Baltimore Museum of Art pivots for a new audience," Baltimore Sun 11/2014
"BMA Curator highlights five special objects from renovated American Wing, Baltimore Sun 11/2014
"Refocusing on a New Constituency," New York Times 10/2014
"Baltimore Museum of Art sets November 2014 opening date for renovated American Wing," Baltimore Business Journal 11/2013
"Baltimore Museum of Art to reopen original entrance in November 2014," Baltimore Sun 11/2013
Citation Award, AIA Maryland, 2017
Excellence in Design Award, AIA Baltimore, 2016
Grand Design Award, AIA Baltimore, 2016