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The Asian Art Museum in Seattle will reopen in Spring 2020
© Tim Griffith
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https://www.archdaily.com/925777/seattles-asian-art-museum-set-to-reopen-in-spring-2020
The renovation of the Seattle Asian Art Museum by LMN Architects and landscape architect Walker Macy is slated to open in February next year. The project takes the original building from the early 20th century and brings it up to 21st century standards. The renovation includes maintaining the 1933 building and Art Deco facade, as well as a new glass-enclosed park lobby overlooking the Olmstead-designed volunteer park.
© Tim Griffith
The Seattle Asian Art Museum has been closed since early 2017 as the museum’s historic building was closed to meet critical infrastructure, accessibility and program space requirements. The $ 56 million project includes the new park lobby as well as a new gallery, education studio, conservation center, and common room. The renovated and expanded space allows SAM to redesign the installation of the permanent collection, showcase contemporary Asian art, and open the conservation to the public.
The Asian Art Museum is one of the few art museums in North America devoted exclusively to Asian art. It maintains an art collection from China, Korea, Japan, India, the Himalayas, and Southeast Asia. The museum offers a wide range of collection installations as well as special exhibitions and can now expand its program to include a new 2,650 square meter gallery.
© Tim Griffith
“This is a pivotal moment for SAM and the city of Seattle,” said Amada Cruz, the newly appointed director and CEO of SAM at Illsley Ball Nordstrom. “With the completion of this project, we are unveiling new spaces to connect the museum’s exceptional collection of Asian art to our lives and experiences. I am grateful to the city of Seattle, the staff and supporters of SAM and especially my predecessor Kimerly Rorschach for working through this monumental project. “The project team consisted of general contractor and site manager BNBuilders, Inc. and the construction and project management services of OAC Services, Inc.
© Tim Griffith
The historic Art Deco building of the Asian Art Museum was SAM’s original home and has not undergone significant restoration or renovation since its construction in 1933. The renovation and expansion project modernizes and preserves the historic building and at the same time creates a new connection to the volunteer park. The project was funded from a mix of public and private funds with a final budget of approximately US $ 56 million. Of that funding, $ 21 million will come from the City of Seattle, which owns the building. Additional government support includes $ 1.5 million from Washington State and $ 1.4 million from King County. The remaining funds were raised through private support.
The Seattle Asian Art Museum will reopen to the public on February 8, 2020.
