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Established in 1935, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is one of the most prestigious bearers of modern and contemporary art in the United States. The museum holds a collection of more than 33,000 works spanning the fields of architecture, design, media arts, painting, photography, and sculpture. The Doris and Donald Fisher Collection in particular boasts one of the world's greatest private assemblies of postwar and contemporary art. As that collection expanded in size, it became clear that a larger home was necessary. Enter Snøhetta, a Norwegian architecture firm with vast experience designing international cultural landmarks. Their ten-storey expansion, a piece of art in its own right, will finally be unveiled to the public on May 14.
The purpose-built addition triples the amount of gallery space, providing room for a celebrated opening of 19 exhibitions. The new building, which soars above the original Mario Botta-designed structure, will offer free public access to 45,000 square feet of ground-floor galleries and free admission for all visitors 18 years of age and younger. Seeking LEED Gold certification, the museum will be one of the first in the nation to illuminate all of its gallery spaces with LED lighting.
More than 700 fibreglass-reinforced polymer panels comprise the dynamic eastern facade of the addition, which has a wavy pattern that complements the waters and fog of San Francisco Bay. Changing light is reflected by silicate crystals from Monterey County that have been embedded into the facade. Terraces act as extensions to the exhibition spaces, hosting outdoor sculptures and views of the city. On the third floor, the largest public living wall in the country commands attention with 19,000 plants and 21 native species.
Snøhetta's design prioritizes pedestrian mobility with a new entrance on Howard Street and a series of pathways around the building. This creates a seamless relationship with one of San Francisco's busiest neighbourhoods, South of Market, which is undergoing an unprecedented urban transformation. The new building also contributes to the vitality of the area by housing three dining establishments and a renovated museum store. A barometer of the public's excitement after three years of construction, tickets to the grand opening are already sold out.
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