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Renovation and expansion of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Boston / USA

Boston’s original Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum opened in 1903 at Fenway Court, a Venetian-style palazzo built by the patroness Isabella Stewart Gardner to showcase her substantial collection of over 2,500 works of fine and decorative art, including tapestries, furniture, manuscripts and textiles, from Europe, Asia, the Islamic world and America. Faced with an important increase in visitors and a desire to expand and develop the events and activities, RPBW was commissioned to lead the design of the renovation and expansion of the museum.

A large blue building with a lot of windows and people standing in front of it
© Nic Lehoux

 

Boston’s original Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, established in 1903 at Fenway Court, is housed in a Venetian-style palazzo built by its founder Isabella Stewart Gardner. The museum was designed to display her expansive collection of over 2,500 works of art, including tapestries, furniture, manuscripts, and textiles from Europe, Asia, the Islamic world, and America.

As the number of visitors grew from 2,000 to 200,000 annually, along with increasing special events, the original rooms and exhibits began to lose their intended atmosphere. To address this, the Museum initiated an Extension and Preservation Project, creating additional space to restore the palazzo’s rooms and return them to their former glory.

 
A large green building with a tree on the side of it at night
© Nic Lehoux
Seamlessly blending heritage and innovation, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum’s expansion restores its original spirit while offering a dynamic new space for art and visitors alike.
A greenhouse filled with lots of plants and people
© Nic Lehoux
A woman is standing on the balcony of a building with a glass facade
© Nic Lehoux
A row of cars are parked in front of a building
© Nic Lehoux
 

 
 

The new extension of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum gracefully sits in the museum gardens, carefully separated from the original building and linked by a transparent glass corridor. This four-storey structure, clad in glass and oxidized copper panels, features a restrained roofline that complements its natural surroundings. The extension comprises four distinct volumes connected by glazed circulation spaces, including a grand central staircase, with each volume serving a unique purpose, such as the 296-seat auditorium and an adaptable special exhibition gallery.

The 2,000 sq ft special exhibition gallery includes an annex for light-sensitive objects, with its north-facing glass wall and skylight providing precise control over natural light levels. The space is further enhanced by a movable translucent ceiling, offering flexibility for different exhibition needs. The remaining smaller volumes house administrative areas, conservation labs, and support spaces for the performance hall, all thoughtfully designed to contribute to the museum's overall functionality and experience.

 
Two people are walking down stairs in front of a glass building
© Nic Lehoux
A person is walking down a set of stairs in a building
© Nic Lehoux
A man taking a picture of a painting in a museum
© Nic Lehoux
A tree in front of a building with a lot of windows
© Nic Lehoux
 

Providing a new and welcoming experience for the museum

 

an airy greenhouse that offers views through the surrounding trees. This level accommodates classrooms, a café, and orientation areas, providing a welcoming atmosphere for visitors.

Access to the museum is through a new entrance atrium on Evans Way, with greenhouses lining the street front to support the museum's horticultural program. Above, artist-in-residence apartments are nestled beneath a sloping glazed roof, facing the park. The building ensures LEED certification by utilizing a geothermal well system, daylight harvesting, water-efficient landscaping, and local materials.

A man and a woman are standing in a library looking at books
© Nic Lehoux
Two people are walking down stairs in front of a glass building
© Nic Lehoux
A group of people looking at paintings in a museum
© Nic Lehoux
A greenhouse with a lot of windows and plants
© Nic Lehoux

Project Details

Status

2005 - 2012

Client

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Design

Renzo Piano Building Workshop in collaboration with Stantec - Burt Hill (Boston), architects

Design Team

E.Baglietto (partner in charge) with M.Aloisini, I.Ceccherini V.Grassi, S.Ishida (partner), Y.Kim, M.Liepmann, M.Neri, K. Schorn, T.Stewart, O.Teke and E.Moore; G.Langasco (CAD Operator); F.Cappellini, A.Marazzi, F.Terranova (models)

Consultants

Buro Happold (structure and services); Front (façade consultant); Arup (lighting); Nagata Acoustics (acoustics); Stuart-Lynn Company (cost consultant); Paratus Group (project manager) CBT/Childs Bertman Tseckares (consulting architect for Schematic & Design Development)

Environmental Certifications

LEED Gold certification (2012)

Environmental certifications

2012 LEED Gold certification

Awards

The Harleston Parker Medal (2016)