The newly constructed wing for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, opens to the public today with a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony accompanied by the City of Boston’s Mayor Thomas M. Menino. Designed to preserve the 1902 historic building, the 70,000 square-foot addition will offer purpose-built spaces for concerts, exhibitions and classes, along with enhanced visitor amenities. The museum will also be kicking off an inaugural season of exhibitions, performances and events that will highlight the buildings wide range of programming.
“This new wing is an extraordinarily elegant workshop, a bustling counterpoint to the historic building’s serenity. Here, the thinking and the work of the Museum is performed, so that the Palace, which had been put to uses for which it was not equipped, can once again give visitors the experience Isabella Stewart Gardner intended: a personal confrontation with art,” said Anne Hawley, Norma Jean Calderwood Director of the Museum.
Continue reading for more images and information.
Natural light floods the interior, creating an open and welcoming entrance for visitors as they enjoy uninterrupted views of the original building and gardens. The building features four volumes clad in green pre-patinated copper and red brick that “float” above the transparent first floor.
Key features include a 300-seat performance hall, an adjustable height special exhibition gallery, a new restaurant, gift shop, landscape classroom, expanded outdoor garden spaces, two artist apartments, conservation labs and a hands on art workshop.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is seeking LEED gold certification by the United States Green Building Council. Primary components of the sustainable design are a geothermal well system, daylight harvesting, water efficient landscaping techniques, and the use of local and regional materials, which reduces the environmental impact associated with transport.
View our previous coverage on the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum addition here on ArchDaily.
Reference: Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
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- Evans Way Park lobby entrance of the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- Exterior view of the new Evans Way Park entrance © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- Evening exterior view of the new Evans Way Park entrance © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- Evening view of the façade of the new Evans Way Park entrance – Outdoor art installation “Ailanthus” by Stefano Arienti (top left) © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- Evening exterior view – Outdoor art installation “Ailanthus” by Stefano Arienti (right) © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- Evening exterior view of the new Special Exhibition Gallery in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- Evening exterior view of the façade of the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. In view is the Special Exhibition Gallery (top left), The Living Room visitor orientation space (bottom left), and the glass connector (bottom right). © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- Evening exterior view of the new Special Exhibition Gallery in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The Living Room visitor orientation space sits below. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- Evening exterior view of the new Special Exhibition Gallery in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The Living Room visitor orientation space sits below. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- Interior view of the new Special Exhibition Gallery in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The historic palace is visible through the windows in the rear. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- Interior view of the new Special Exhibition Gallery in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The historic palace is visible through the windows to the right. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- Interior view of the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum with floating bookshelves adorning hallway walls. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- A view of the new central grand staircase in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The historic palace building is visible through the windows in the rear. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- A view of the new central grand staircase in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The historic palace building is visible through the windows in the rear. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- A view of the new central grand staircase in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- A view of the new central grand staircase in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- A view of the new central grand staircase in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- A cross-section view of the new central grand staircase in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- A stage level view of Calderwood Hall in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- A stage level view of Calderwood Hall in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- View from a balcony of Calderwood Hall in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- An overhead view of Calderwood Hall in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- A view of Café G, the new restaurant located in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- A view of Café G, the new restaurant located in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- A view of the new Living Room visitor orientation space in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The historic palace building is visible through the windows in the rear. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- A view of the new Living Room visitor orientation space in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Evans Way Park is visible through the windows to the left. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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- A view of the new Living Room visitor orientation space in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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