Over the last 20 years, increased public interest in Akron Art Museum’s exhibits and programs dictated a need for a larger space. Diana Nicklaus was Project Architect as part of the Architect of Record team and worked directly with the design architect on this high-profile project.
The museum’s new addition allows room for special exhibitions and increased facility space for educational workshops. Three elements comprise the structure of the expansion: the “Crystal”, a three-story glass encased lobby, the “Gallery Box”, a flexible gallery space that projects over portions of the lobby, and the “High Roof”, a floating armature that extends over both old and new portions of the building. Such a striking construction marks the building not only as an attractive destination, but also as a cultural, multi-use landmark.
