OMA REVEALS DESIGN FOR BUFFALO’S ALBRIGHT-KNOX ART GALLERY EXPANSION

The Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), the Rotterdam-based firm that was selected to lead Buffalo’s Albright-Knox Art Gallery’s $155 million expansion and renovation project, has announced its plans for the institution’s campus.

Dubbed AK360, the project is the museum’s first expansion in more than half a century. It was made possible after Buffalo-based billionaire Jeffrey Gundlach made a historic donation of $42.5 million, which helped the institution raise an unprecedented $103 million in the eleven weeks that followed the announcement of his gift.

Located in Delaware Park, which was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the museum aims to better integrate its building with the landscape. “A key question we have been challenging ourselves and our architects with is where should we build,” museum director Janne Siren told Rachele Mongiovi of WIVB News 4.

Architect Shohei Shigematsu came up with a plan to expand the museum by fifty thousand square feet without compromising any of the parkland. The museum, which is currently only able to exhibit 2.5 percent of its collection at a time, will add two main galleries. One will be built above its sculpture garden, and the second space will be built underground, underneath the current parking lot, which will be transformed into an outdoor exhibition space. The new parking lot will also be constructed underground.

“I think to remove the cars from the view really allows you to enjoy the beautiful new buildings, and [to] take that space away and add the green space is incredible for the community,” said Buffalo resident Theresa Jehle.