renzo piano unites harvard art museums with glazed rooftop structure
the project, which took eight years to finalize, involved consolidating the site's three institutions within a singular upgraded facility.
renzo piano unites harvard art museums with glazed rooftop structure
photo by nic lehoux
all images courtesy of renzo piano building workshop
renowned italian architect renzo piano has completed work in cambridge, massachusetts at the site of harvard university’s three art museums. the project, which took eight years to finalize, involved consolidating the fogg, busch-reisinger and the arthur m. sackler museum within a singular upgraded facility.
articulated around the existing museums’ restored courtyard, the design integrates the existing 1920s georgian revival building with a glazed rooftop structure that connects the entirety of the scheme. this addition controls the amount of natural light entering the atrium, as well as the adjacent art study centers and galleries.
the 8-year project unites the site’s three art institutions
photo by nic lehoux
ensuring that the remodeling returns the architecture to its original state, all modifications made after 1927 have been demolished, while each aspect of the historic building – structural, mechanical and technical – have been restored and upgraded. placed at a more prominent location on level four, the art study centers within the design have been significantly refurbished. above, the conservation lab will continue to occupy the top storey beneath the sloping glazed canopy. public amenities and support spaces for special events have been enlarged and modernized, including a 300 seat auditorium at basement level.
for designboom’s previous coverage of the project in its construction phase, see here.
the facility is integrated with the existing 1920s georgian revival building
photo by nic lehoux
the entrance to the complex
photo © michel denancé
the conservation lab occupies the top storey beneath the sloping glazed canopy
photo by nic lehoux
the glazed structure connects the entirety of the design
(left) photo © michel denancé
(right) photo by nic lehoux
exhibition space is organized around the central atrium
photo by nic lehoux
looking upwards at the rooftop addition
photo by nic lehoux
support spaces for special events have been enlarged and modernized
photo by nic lehoux
light inside the building is carefully controlled
photo by nic lehoux
the monolithic volume viewed from the passing street
photo by nic lehoux
the harvard art museums complex illuminated at night
photo by nic lehoux
project info:
location: cambridge, MA, USA
client: harvard art museums tom leutz
architects: renzo piano building workshop, in collaboration with payette associates inc. (boston)
design team: m. carroll and e. trezzani (partners in charge) with j. lee, e. baglietto (partner), s. ishida (partner), a. stern, f. becchi, m. orlandi, p. carrera, j. pejkovic and r. aeck, b. cook, j. cook, m. fleming, m. palacio, s. joubert; m. ottonello (CAD operator); f. cappellini, f. terranova (models)
consultants: robert silman associates (structure); arup (MEP engineering and lighting design); nitsch engineering (civil engineering); davis langdon (cost consultant); carl cathcart (arborist); building conservation associates (restoring consulting)
