The San Diego Museum of Art has chosen architectural firm Foster + Partners to design a new building to replace the institution’s west wing.
The museum’s renovation project is expected to break ground in 2026. The new wing will include a new education centre and pavilion, and a new rooftop space with views of Balboa Park.
Roxana Velásquez, the museum’s executive director and CEO, said the project will offer “free access to open art spaces for the public and increase educational opportunities for the community”.
Alongside Foster + Partners, the San Diego Museum of Art will “create a space that makes art more accessible to everyone and, simultaneously, is functional in design and fit for the next 100 years”, added Velásquez.
New building to replace west wing
“I have always admired San Diego’s rich cultural diversity and deep sense of community,” said Norman Foster, the founder and executive chairman of Foster + Partners.
“We are delighted to be working with the San Diego Museum of Art to strengthen its roots in the area, reinvigorating a much-loved landmark with the ultimate aim of making art more accessible to the community,” he added.
The museum plans to organise community engagement activities during the design process. These will include public workshops and events to get feedback and suggestions.
Local firm LPA Design Studio will be working with Foster + Partners, focusing on project management and daily supervision.
Project to break ground in 2026
Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego Museum of Art is home to a collection of more than 20,000 works.
Last year, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego reopened its flagship location in La Jolla after a $105m renovation and expansion by Selldorf Architects.
The new Comic-Con Museum opened in Balboa Park in 2022. Rita Vandergaw, the museum’s executive director, told blooloop: “It is completely unique, and we are positioning it as such.”
Image: Javier Velez
