The Motown Museum‘s $75 million expansion, a new 40,000-square-foot building, is set to open in summer 2026.
Construction has started on the third phase of the expansion project, which is a two-storey, 40,000-square-foot building behind Hitsville U.S.A – the original Motown Records headquarters.
The expansion was originally set to cost $50m, but it has risen to $75m. The museum has so far raised $70m, said Robin Terry, the museum’s chairwoman and CEO.
“What’s critical about $70 million is that it means we get to work. This construction is starting. We no longer have the concern of further escalations, which is critical to projects like this,” said Terry (via Detroit Free Press).
The Motown Museum has released renderings of the new building’s lobby and café. The new space will also house immersive and interactive exhibits, an expanded retail experience, and a theatre sponsored by the Ford Motor Company.
The expansion of the Motown Museum has taken place in three phases. The first phase was Hitsville Next, an educational and creative hub next to the main museum building.
The second phase included a new outdoor plaza and restoration on the Hitsville house. This was completed in 2022.
Immersive exhibits in new building
Last year, the Motown Museum unveiled two exhibits as part of the third phase of the expansion. These are ‘the Motown Atmosphere’ and ‘the Backstage Lounge’.
The former will take visitors back in time to an immersive room of classic Motown images. Guests will see their favourite Motown stars up close and hear their stories.
The latter will be a musical repository where visitors can search the Motown catalogue to find music and listen to exclusive interviews with stars.
Images courtesy of the Motown Museum
