Art Museum Expansion

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By Brandon Gollotti
For PlanPhilly

Construction project update:

Exterior projects at the Philadelphia Museum of Art are wrapping up this spring.

Conceptual view of the new parking facility and sculpture garden.

One of the largest aspects of the museum’s external expansion is the addition of an underground parking facility set to accommodate 425 cars. Atop the parking facility is a new sculpture garden, which will provide a new open space to the public. The plans include security lighting and surveillance to help provide a safe environment for those using the facilities.

Current view of parking garage from Kelly Drive.

Parking garage entrance near the new, soon-to-be-completed sculpture garden.

The Museum’s existing Fairmount Avenue surface parking lot now accommodates 84 vehicles and extends from the Italian Fountain to Kelly Drive, parallel to the Azalea Garden.

Additionally, a new 27-car parking area for public use will be built between Waterworks Drive and the Schuylkill River. This parking lot will be located beside a running trail, a sculpture area, and a child-friendly interactive water feature. This public lot will contain environmental features such as permeable paving, perforated curbing, and an adjacent rain garden to manage stormwater runoff.

Conceptual view of the surface parking lots.

Current view of the loading dock.

Along Kelly Drive, the loading dock will be moved and restored and used as “major gateway for the public.”

Plans also call for additional gallery space set to be housed under the existing Greek revival structure.

All of these projects come from the Museum’s 10-year master plan, which was announced in 2006 and headed up by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry.