brooks + scarpa: contemporary art museum raleigh

'contemporary art museum raleigh' by brooks + scarpa, raleigh, north carolina, USA
image © lawrence scarpa
all images courtesy brooks + scarpa


los angeles-based practice brooks + scarpa have completed the 'contemporary arts museum raleigh' in the center
of the depot district in raleigh, north carolina, USA. like a butterfly's wings, an inclined roof cantilevers from this
historic brick structure constructed in 1910, transforming the industrial allen & forge welding company warehouse
into a series of art galleries. maintaining the character of the railway transportation activities of the area, the center
demonstrates sustainability and leadership in historic preservation practices. resembling the appearance of a folded piece
of paper, the canopy extends to screen an outdoor sculpture garden, welcoming visitors in a similar manner to a
front porch and leading into the first level spaces.



outdoor court is elevated from the street and screened with roof canopy
image © lawrence scarpa


the glass enclosed lobby evokes the atmosphere of a loading dock, instead moving people and art further into
the exhibition areas. the established symmetry of the depository is juxtaposed with an asymmetrical axis to fuse
structures from different eras into a unified building. the utilitarian freight elevator is visible from the open stair
on the entry level. the exposed ceiling trusses supporting the varied roof angles in the main gallery add to the raw
interior quality while an original lunette window allows natural daylight to permeate into the basement which has
been cut into the ground floor.



approach from sidewalk
image © lawrence scarpa



main entrance
image © lawrence scarpa



porch for sculpture installations
image © lawrence scarpa



porch area transformed with seating for events
image © lawrence scarpa



canopy detail
image © lawrence scarpa



basement gallery
image © nick pironio



mezzanine
image © nick pironio



gallery
image © nick pironio



entrance at night
image © brooks + scarpa



at night
image © brooks + scarpa



floor plan / level 0
image © brooks + scarpa



floor plan / level 1
image © brooks + scarpa



section
image © brooks + scarpa



section
image © brooks + scarpa



elevation
image © brooks + scarpa



elevation
image © brooks + scarpa



roof fold diagram
image © brooks + scarpa



roof pattern diagram
image © brooks + scarpa


project info:


project’s formal name: contemporary art museum (cam) raleigh
location of project: 409 w. martin st., raleigh, nc, 27603
client/owner: contemporary art museum
total square footage: 22,300 sf (900 sf new entry lobby)
opened: december 2010
project cost: ,800,000

architects: brooks scarpa (design architect) / clearscapes pa (architect of record)

project team: lawrence scarpa, faia; steve schuster, faia, mark buckland and jon zellweger, aia-project architects,
angela brooks, aia, brad buter, silke clemens, daniel carper, jordon gearhart, ching luk, matthew majack, sarah dickerson,
brandy thompson , aia, fred belledin , aia, christian karkow, john reese, aia, thomas sayre, michael dosier, jedidiah gant.
engineering: lysaght & associates, pa- structural engineering, the wooten company- mechanical electrical plumbing engineering
contractor: ct wilson construction
photography: john edward linden, nick pironio and lawrence scarpa (as noted)
program: exhibition spaces, archive and art storage, educational center, administrative offices, catering kitchen, sculpture garden