glenstone museum previews its thomas phifer-designed expansion

glenstone museum has offered a first look at a collection of new structures that form part of its expanded campus. set to open to the public on october 4, 2018, ‘the pavilions’ is a 204,000-square-foot building designed by thomas phifer. the scheme is the second major museum building at glenstone following ‘the gallery,’ which opened in 2006.

located less than 15 miles from washington DC, glenstone is a museum of modern and contemporary art, which offers free admission throughout the year. grouped around a lushly planted water court, the thomas phifer-designed building comprises 11 distinct spaces installed with artworks drawn exclusively from the institution’s collection. some of the spaces are dedicated to single-artist installations, while others will feature regularly changing exhibitions of works by multiple artists.

the building will open with a number of spaces dedicated to single-artist installations, including major works by michael heizer, roni horn, on kawara, brice marden, lygia pape, charles ray, and cy twombly, among others. in addition, a presentation of 65 works by 52 artists will occupy the largest room in the pavilions, a column-free space of 9,000 square feet.

the expansion more than doubles the natural landscape, which features the museum’s outdoor sculptures, and offers two new cafés for lunch and light refreshments, a new public entrance, and an arrival hall with a bookstore. PWP landscape architecture is responsible for the project’s landscaping. ‘throughout this transformation, we’ve maintained a single mission: to create a seamless integration of art, architecture, and landscape and make it available free of charge to all who wish to visit,’ says mitchell p. rales, founder of glenstone museum.

‘mitch and I have been dreaming for years about the day when we’d be able to pull back the curtain and reveal the new glenstone,’ adds emily rales, director and co-founder of glenstone. ‘now, at last, the art installations and buildings and landscape are complete, and people can finally encounter glenstone as a whole, as we’ve always meant for it to be seen. we’re excited by glenstone, and we hope our visitors will share that feeling, now and for many years to come.’

‘we considered the landscape as the inspiration,’ explains thomas phifer. ‘the visitor’s arrival is choreographed through the trees and open fields, heightening your experience with the land and revealing the subtle qualities of the site. from your first moments at glenstone you experience a place with few distractions, the bustle of ordinary daily activities drops away, and your mind and soul prepare for an intimate encounter with art.’