LMN Architects has announced that the Seattle Asian Art Museum will reopen this month, following a $56 million renovation and expansion of the 1930s Art Deco attraction in Volunteer Park.
According to LMN Architects, the Seattle Asian Art Museum is reopening on February 8, 2020, with regular hours at the museum beginning on February 12.
This is the Seattle Asian Art Museum’s first major refurbishment, which involved renovating the original Art Deco building designed by Bebb and Gould in 1933.
LMN Architects was charged with overseeing the update, including adding a rectangular space to the east side of the Asian Art Museum.
Seattle Asian Art Museum reopens on February 8
“We could not be more excited to open the doors of the museum and welcome everyone back,” said Amada Cruz, CEO of the Seattle Art Museum.
The revamped museum has a new lobby and 2,658-square-foot gallery, while new spaces improve circulation and join the building with the park.
New expanded and renovated gallery space allows the museum to showcase more of its permanent collection and organise special exhibitions.
In addition, light boxes have been built into the ceiling, emulating natural daylight and providing the museum with modern lighting.
Interiors renovated to maximise space at museum
The building’s interior spaces have been renovated to maximise space. As well as façade restoration work, there have been major upgrades to the walls, floors and ceilings.
“The new and refreshed galleries designed by LMN Architects will display art from the collection that has never been on view before, and the resonant themes of the installation will provoke delight and curiosity alike,” added Cruz.
“The new connections to and views of Volunteer Park are stunning. We are grateful to the city of Seattle and the staff and supporters of SAM, as well as SAM’s retired director, Kimerly Rorschach, whose extraordinary dedication brought this project to fruition.”
