The University of Iowa recently completed its new Stanley Museum of Art, a public teaching museum designed by BNIM. The 63,000-square-foot building restores an art museum to the campus after 14 years, following historic flooding in 2008. The Stanley Museum of Art reunites the school with its renowned collections and works, such as Jackson Pollock’s Mural, which had been temporarily held by art institutions around the world.
The University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art is a public museum for discovering and teaching art, as well as a center for campus connection. The building features a transparent main lobby and a new entry plaza for art displays, performances, social gatherings, and classes. A series of flexible gallery spaces offers students, faculty, and visitors space for observing, discussing, and exploring the collections. The galleries’ proportions allow for faculty to curate collections for teaching and research and for students to learn about curating, which is central to the museum’s mission.
The museum’s upper floors include a visual arts laboratory classroom where the collections can be used for teaching. Collaborative staff and volunteer spaces also support the research and teaching of the collections.
A dark, kinetic brick facade, with alternating brick texture and brick finish, reflects the changing sunlight. The lobby’s glass facade and a series of interconnected voids throughout the building establish connections to natural light and guide the visitor experience. Outdoor terraces also serve as spaces for socializing and school visits.
On the Building Team:
Owner: The University of Iowa
Design architect: BNIM
Architect of record: BNIM
MEP engineer: Design Engineers
Structural engineer: Meyer Borgman Johnson
General contractor/construction manager: Russell Construction
Related Stories
Museums | Sep 27, 2021
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures set to open on Sept. 30 in Los Angeles
Renzo Piano Building Workshop designed the project.
Art Galleries | Sep 16, 2021
Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture to open in Hong Kong
The museum will open on Nov. 12.
Museums | Aug 31, 2021
The Making of Harry Potter tour set to open on former Toshimaen amusement park grounds
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo will operate the facility.
Giants 400 | Aug 30, 2021
2021 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S.
The 2021 Giants 400 Report includes more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Museums | Aug 27, 2021
DLR Group to design new facility for Jacksonville’s Museum of Science & History
The museum has outgrown its location on the Southbank of Downtown Jacksonville.
Museums | Aug 24, 2021
MAD Architects unveils design for Hainan Science and Technology Museum
The project is slated to break ground in late August.
Resiliency | Aug 19, 2021
White paper outlines cost-effective flood protection approaches for building owners
A new white paper from Walter P Moore offers an in-depth review of the flood protection process and proven approaches.
Museums | Aug 17, 2021
The Rubin Museum of Art’s Mandala Lab set to open
The new space occupies the museum’s third floor.
Museums | Jul 23, 2021
First museum devoted to artist-built environments opens in Sheboygan
Tres Birds designed the project.
Museums | Jul 20, 2021
ANOHA — The Children’s World of the Jewish Museum Berlin opens
Olson Kundig designed the project.
