MOCAD, designed by the collaborative team of Rice+Lipka Architects and James Corner Field Operations (R+L/JCFO), re-envisions the museum's Albert Kahn-designed industrial shed building and exterior surrounds as an expanded cultural center that opens up to and fully engages the surrounding community. R+L/JCFO's design and masterplan, based on the acquisition of adjacent property just to the museum's south (now a parking lot), provides a refreshed identity, reconceptualized program and new organization for MOCAD. In a seeming paradox, the project seeks be completely transformative, even as it preserves MOCAD's raw, industrial edge.

The project includes new and expanded museum entry, exhibition & event spaces, café, support & administrative functions, as well as generous outdoor art & event spaces that open directly onto Woodward Avenue for the first time. The new vision for infrastructure and grounds will work to invigorate MOCAD's already robust music & arts programming and community engagement, and position the museum as an energetic catalyst for the resurgence of Midtown.

R+L/JCFO's design has been recognized with the 2014 New York State Design Award of Excellence in the Unbuilt category, the 2013 Architectural Review Future Projects Award for the category of “Old & New”, and honored with a special mention in the Architizer A+ Awards for the “Architecture +Urban Transformation” category. The design is cited by the Future Project jury as “an inspirational project that combines past and present in a well resolved and convincing manner. It creates new space for new creativity in a post-industrial city.” 

Lyn Rice and Astrid Lipka, Principals
Benjamin Cadena, Associate
Patrick Burke, Jordan Prosser, Simon Ng, Xin Wu, design team