With nothing remaining of the old Fire Station #1 but a pile of rubble, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) expansion project has been underway for a little more than a month. The Snøhetta-designed expansion and remodel, coming in at a whopping $610 million, will add 225,000 square feet, more than double the existing gallery space and 6 times the public space. Features will include an outdoor terrace, sculpture terrace, and state-of-the-art conservation studios. The new building will create space for the Fisher Collection, donated by Gap founders Doris and Donald Fisher, and is seeking LEED Gold certification. A modern fire station was built down the road in order for the museum to expand onto the adjacent parcel.
The museum officially closed on June 2, and will remain that way for roughly 2.5 years while under construction, but there are still many opportunities to experience the art collection through the SFMOMA On the Go program. There is also a video synopsis of the expansion project here. “It will be in fact the largest gallery spaces available of any museum in the country for modern art.” That’s just one of the many factoids you’ll learn by watching the above video, which dives deep into the SFMOMA expansion, expected to be completed by 2016.
For more information regarding the SFMOMA, visit Curbed SF! If you are interested in recent developments in the SOMA District, please contact Jane Hopkins today!