Selldorf Architects

The Clark’s master plan distributes museum, library, and ancillary functions across its campus in new ways. Selldorf Architects is responsible for the renovation and expansion of the two existing buildings on the site: the Museum Building and the Manton Research Center. Perhaps the most critical task for Selldorf was providing a logical link to the new campus circulation, as well as making sense of the very different architectural vocabularies. The renovation of the original 1955 Museum entails a new western orientated entry gallery, and an addition to the south containing a new public stair and elevator to connect to newly created galleries for Decorative Arts on the lower level.

The Manton Research Center was completed in 1973 by Pietro Belluschi with The Architects Collaborative, to house the Institute’s substantial art history library, galleries, auditorium, and administrative offices. The renovation includes recasting the central visitor services atrium as a new public reading room, creating a new study center for works on paper, and refurbishing existing galleries and the 330-seat auditorium. The reading room space is a tall cube at 40' x 40' x 40', and incorporates a new mezzanine level fitted out with bookshelves connected to the main level by two new staircases. Selldorf Architects is working with Gensler, the Executive Architect for the project.