By Diane O'Neal
It is no surprise that our local art museum is undergoing a massive transformation. London- based architect Rick Mather was chosen by Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for the expansion project specifically due to his talents for seamlessly combining the new with the old. When it comes to building additions, his work is renowned as being non-evasive and harmonious, allowing the strong historical character of the original structure to shine through. In this project, which happens to be his first in the United States, one way he will tie the new wing in with the old is by using limestone as the main building material. The other primary material: glass.

There will certainly be no mistaking the new expansion with the old building, and no mistaking that you are welcome to come inside. Overlooking the Boulevard, the new wing will have a glass wall larger than the size of a tennis court, revealing an interior atrium full of public activity and iconic pieces from the museum’s collections. A smaller glass wall on the North side will look onto part of the new four-acre sculpture garden. Overhead skylights will stretch the length of the footballfield sized space, while glass catwalks connect galleries in the old wing with galleries in the new. When in the atrium, your experience may be overwhelming with a sense of light and openness, combined with a feeling of excitement and anticipation.

Upon entering the atrium – a three story high “Main Street” – you will be connected to the new and expanded museum shop, an al fresco café, the theater, sculpture garden, and, now open-to-the-public library. Beneath you, there will be gallery space for temporary exhibitions large enough to host any national or international traveling show. Before expansion, the museum did not have a gallery large enough for this. In addition to this new gallery space, every permanent gallery within the museum is just about doubling in size. Works of art previously in storage will be revealed, and the museum will have space to show new acquisitions purchased with money from an endowment fund, which ranks among the top five endowments for art purchases in the nation.

Many new pieces will be acquired for the sculpture garden which will span a huge portion of the museum campus. Originally, the design was crafted to allow only three acres for the garden, mainly located over what previously were surface parking lots. Mather, “a visionary architect inspired by context”, designed the new 600-car parking deck to integrate with the land. The top of the deck will be landscaped on a slope, extending the sculpture garden by another acre. Entirely open to the public, the garden will host events and performances, and sport plenty of seating as well as free WiFi.

Before expansion, with a collection of close to 20,000 art pieces from all over the world, the VMFA was regarded as the top institution in the Southeast. Museum Director Alex Nyerges states that, “When we reopen, VMFA will be among the top ten comprehensive art museums in the United States.” Ultimately, however, the goal of the expansion effort is to increase accessibility. This includes accessibility to the museum, between galleries, to information and resources, public events, and more. From the inside out, the new VMFA will be a place for social gathering, art appreciation, education and fun for all.