brooks + scarpa covers southern utah museum of art with canyon-like roof

brooks + scarpa covers southern utah museum of art with canyon-like roof
all images courtesy of brooks + scarpa architects

located on the southern utah university campus in cedar creek, utah, construction is about to begin on the ‘southern utah museum of art’, designed by los angeles-based brooks + scarpa architects. the project has an expected completion date of 2016 and is part of the ‘beverley taylor sorenson center for the arts’, a larger cultural development which includes a new ‘shakespeare theater’, also conceived by brooks + scarpa.

the overall form of the structure is influenced by sandstone formations found at nearby bryce canyon and mt. zion national park. these landforms are translated into the building’s canyon-like roof, which monolithically covers the entirety of the museum as well as a 5,000 square-foot outdoor space at the main entry. this large front porch area serves for events, social gathering, and exchange of ideas, while also creating a gradual transition between the exterior and interior.

 the building is covered by a monolithic and canyon-like roof

SUMA’s exhibition space is composed as a series of separate and reconfigurable galleries intended to host local and international works, specifically of the utah artist jim jones. the facility will serve for the exhibition of pieces from SUU’s art and design students and faculty. in addition, the museum will contain 5,300 square feet of research, care, and storage spaces, while allowing visitors to view behind-the-scenes operations of the ‘trismen mason collection’ and ‘conservation studio’. an additional 1,000 square feet is planned for classroom and studio areas for hands-on youth school group activities.

the building’s overall form is influenced by sandstone land formations found distinctly in southern utah

the facility contains as a series of reconfigurable galleries intended to host local and international works

a large covered outdoor space at the main entry is able to host events and general gatherings

the porch area creates a gradual transition from the exterior to the interior

the ‘beverley taylor sorenson center for the arts’ cultural development centers around a tree-lined walkway

a sculpture garden complements the museum facility

project info:

location: cedar city, utah, USA
size: 28,000 sqf
expected completion date: 2016
architect: brooks + scarpa
local architect: blalock partners
contractor: big-d construction
structural engineer: reaveley engineers
M+P consulting: van boerum & frank associates
electrical engineer: BNA
civil engineer: insite engineering
landscape design: coen + partners with g. brown design, inc.
lighting design: luminesence
façade engineering: buro happold