The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) has announced that its flagship location in La Jolla will reopen to the public on April 9, following a $105m renovation and expansion by Selldorf Architects.
The expanded museum will offer significantly more gallery space. In addition, 28,000 square feet of existing spaces have been renovated, and the museum’s square footage has been doubled with the addition of 46,400 square feet.
“Our goal for the museum was to allow the fantastic site and views of the Pacific Ocean to guide a coherent circulation path and instill a generous and inclusive spirit to bring people to the great collection of MCASD,” said Annabelle Selldorf.
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego will also feature a more welcoming and accessible entrance, and the former Sherwood Auditorium has been repurposed as a 7,000-square-foot gallery.
“With the Selldorf expansion, MCASD’s flagship building is, at last, scaled to showcase the work it has collected over the past decades,” said Kathryn Kanjo, director and CEO of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.
Renovated museum reopens on April 9
“Soaring ceilings and natural light allow for inviting displays of the collection alongside lively, changing exhibitions,” Kanjo added.
“The design honors the museum’s rich architectural history as it frames distinctive views of the village and the coast, providing an updated space for the art and for today’s audience.”
Opening exhibitions include ‘Niki de Saint Phalle in the 1960s’, on view through July 2022, and ‘Alexis Smith: The American Way’, available until autumn 2022.
“Our collection includes some of the greatest artists from the past century that represent diverse geographies, aesthetics, genders, races, and often reflect the museum’s position by the Mexico border,” Kanjo said.
“With this added space we can consistently present these objects to a curious public.”
In addition to its location in the coastal community of La Jolla, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego has a venue in downtown San Diego.
