Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Unveils Ambitious $261 Million Expansion

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) has announced plans for a significant expansion, revealing the full renderings of its $261 million project. This undertaking marks the largest expansion in the museum’s history, with construction set to commence in August 2024 after delays in the architectural process. The renovation is anticipated to open its doors in 2029, and the museum will remain operational throughout the construction phases.

Director and CEO Alex Nyerges emphasized the museum’s commitment to quality over speed, stating, “Our focus is on doing it right and worrying less about the schedule.” The expansion will allow the museum to showcase an additional 2,500 works, a nearly 65% increase, as current space limitations have restricted access to many pieces. Presently, the museum displays over 4,000 works.

Transformative Features of the McGlothlin Wing II

The new McGlothlin Wing II will add 173,000 square feet of gallery space and renovate 45,000 square feet of existing areas. This five-story addition will overlook the museum’s sculpture garden and introduce a new café and bistro. The design, created by the international architecture firm SmithGroup, provides a comprehensive view of the building’s volume, interior spaces, and exterior aesthetics.

The first floor will significantly expand the African galleries, offering nearly 8,600 square feet and becoming the second-largest African art space in any U.S. museum, surpassed only by the Smithsonian. The third floor will house American art, gaining almost 30,000 square feet to become the fourth-largest American art gallery in the nation. Visitors will benefit from numerous glass-walled areas with seating that overlook the sculpture garden, creating inviting spaces for reflection.

The second floor will relocate the German Expressionism collection and introduce new photography galleries, which will encompass 5,500 square feet. This upgrade positions the VMFA as home to the second-largest space for photography within a comprehensive U.S. art museum. The fourth floor is set to accommodate contemporary and 21st-century art, expanding to five times its current size and adding a 12,000 square foot special exhibition space, facilitating simultaneous major exhibitions for the first time.

Modern Upgrades and Visitor Experience Enhancements

Renovations will also update existing spaces across the museum’s 1936, 1970, and 2010 wings. The current African art gallery will be transformed into new European galleries, showcasing a range from Medieval to Impressionism. Notably, for the first time, 19th-century French Impressionism will be displayed in a dedicated suite. The expansion aims to improve visitor flow by eliminating dead ends, enhancing circulation between the Mellon and Lewis galleries.

A new café and bistro, located on the Grove Avenue side, will offer a mix of upscale dining and casual options, blending the ambiance of the current Amuse restaurant with the cafeteria style of Best Café. Unlike the previous expansion in 2010, which required a 10-month closure, the museum will remain open during this renovation. Some galleries, including the Lewis galleries of mid- to late-20th-century art, will be temporarily closed, with the Paul and Rachel Mellon collection of European and sporting art closing in spring or summer of 2024.

The expansion is expected to increase annual visitation from 624,500 to approximately 700,000, a modest rise given the Richmond region’s population of about 1.3 million. Nyerges noted that the previous expansion saw visitation jump dramatically from 162,000 to over 600,000. The funding for the expansion will be sourced from both public and private avenues, with notable contributions, including $57 million from the McGlothlins.

Admission to the museum will continue to be free after the expansion is completed, ensuring accessibility to a broader audience. The anticipated renovations and additions promise to create a more enriching cultural experience for visitors and further establish the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts as a premier destination for art lovers.