The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) has broken ground on its $95 million expansion project.
CEO Kathyn Kanjo said at the ceremony: “Two years ago, on the occasion of our 75th anniversary, the Museum announced a transformative vision for the future: a campaign that would dramatically grow the campus and increase its operational endowment. With the acquisition of additional property, invested stakeholders, and the endorsement of the city of La Jolla and San Diego, the Museum is poised to nearly double its size and quadruple current gallery space.”
The Museum has raised over $80m towards the renovation of its flagship La Jolla facility.
Collectors have promised gifts of art including works by Francis Bacon, Helen Frankenthaler, Morris Louis, Joan Mitchell, Barnett Newman, and Andy Warhol.
Board President Paul Jacobs said: “Culture is part of every great city, and when MCASD reopens, it will be a cultural beacon for the city of La Jolla, the San Diego region, and far beyond. This project is privately funded, but its end result will benefit the public tremendously, and that’s especially gratifying to everyone who supports this project.”
Selldorf Architects developed the expansion to maximise gallery space for the collection and increase meeting spaces for the public.
The development will include two levels of light-filled galleries with vertical windows. There will be a large, flexible multipurpose gallery on the lower level. Car parking facilities will be built underground, freeing up the existing parking lot to be transformed into a public art park.
Earlier this year, the architects were chosen for a controversial planned redevelopment of the Frick Collection, NY.
During the closure of the La Jolla facility, MCASD will continue to display exhibitions and programming at its Jacobs and Copley Buildings at MCASD Downtown.
Image courtesy MCASD
