massachusetts college of art and design
massart art museum
boston, massachusetts
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Type: Renovation
Size: 26,000 SF
Status: Completed, 2019
Photography: Will Howcroft, Amy Fink, and Peter Vanderwarker -
The MassArt Art Museum, or MAAM, is a teaching museum and a kunsthalleβ a non-collecting museum. The project transforms two makeshift galleries in a 100-year old building into a state-of-the-art contemporary art museum. The mission for the project was to create a new museum-quality environment, while giving the museum a clear entry and identity on Huntington Ave, Bostonβs Avenue of the Arts.
The renovation involved a full transformation to the two main gallery spaces and curatorial workshops, as well as a relocation and redesign of staff offices. With a new, dedicated entry way, welcoming plaza, and bold signage, the exterior of the building announces the museumβs arrival to the regionβs robust arts scene. Indoors, the renovation creates first-class gallery space, and a new lobby that gives visitors access to all of the museumβs amenities directly from the street.
The history of the building is embedded into the details of this project; ceilings were torn down in the upstairs gallery to reveal the historic buildingβs original terracotta vaulting and steel trusses. At 36 feet high, the trusses can act as an armature for art, creating unlimited possibilities for display. A staircase leads to a second-level viewing platform, offering a unique perspective on a diverse range of experimental art. Throughout, crisp white textures were used to create a blank canvas for the museumβs rotating exhibits.
impact
A primary mission of MAAM is to create equitable access to world-class contemporary art installations. The Gallery Education Studio and seminar rooms on the ground floor support classes, school groups, and community programming for the museum. MAAM is the largest free and publicly-owned contemporary art space in New England, fostering a critical dialogue between artists of different disciplines, media, and approaches. It promotes collaboration and interdisciplinary work while forging strong community relationships in the Greater Boston area. The museum holds ongoing programs with the Boston Public Schools through their gallery education department, and supports community programming such as the MassArt Family Day, which exposes children and families to contemporary art in an accessible and approachable way.