The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is one of the premier art museums in the United States. From its opening in 1932, and over the course of 70+ years, this stunning neoclassical building has displayed around 40,000 works of art from around the globe, most notably extensive collections of Asian art. Along with European paintings and striking contemporary pieces, it’s impossible to miss the massive Shuttlecock sculptures dotting the expansive front lawn.
The last time the museum saw a large-scale expansion project was in 2007 with the opening of the iconic Bloch Building, designed by Steven Holl. This addition added an impressive 165,000 square feet and features five glass “lenses” that rise from the landscape and channel natural light into the museum’s underground galleries.
Now, the Nelson-Atkins is gearing up for its next major addition. Last year, the museum sought proposals for adding much-needed space. Nearly 200 architects from over 30 countries responded with submissions. From those entries, six finalists were chosen. Then, the museum invited the community’s opinion on which design best complemented and enhanced the museum.
Selldorf Architects
Kengo Kuma & Associates
Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Studio Gang
WHY Architecture
Weiss/Manfredi
In late April 2025, the Nelson-Atkins proudly announced Weiss/Manfredi as the winning design team. Their plans center on an expansion to the west of the museum featuring a two-tiered glass structure with a “green” roof. This expansion would add 61,000 additional square feet to the museum and provide sweeping views of the south lawn. Inside, the additional space will include galleries and exhibition halls, a new restaurant, and a theater.
Other updates to the museum include amphitheater seating near the reflecting pool on the museum’s north side, glass walls between the neoclassical columns, an open-air observation deck on the roof, a new south entry, and a glass ceiling for Rozelle Court.
Weiss/Manfredi’s design won the hearts of both museum staff and visitors alike for its thoughtful integration with the museum’s traditional design and existing physical structure, while still offering a bold architectural vision.
The openness and connection to the surrounding landscape are a defining feature of the design. Rather than treating the museum as a separate object, Weiss/Manfredi created an approach that made the museum part of the landscape itself. This is a hallmark of the firm, and it is evident in several of their other masterful designs found around the world.
Ellen and her family share a passion for art, and they regularly travel to tour world-class art museums around the world. This past year, the group had the opportunity to visit Amsterdam, where they viewed some must-see works at the Van Gogh Museum, the Rembrandt House Museum, and the Mauritshuis Museum, home of Vermeer’s most famous work, Girl with a Pearl Earring.
Ellen and her family have been visiting the Nelson since she was young, and she is especially excited to see this next chapter in the Nelson-Atkins’ story!
Ellen with her sisters and mother at Van Gogh Museum.
Ellen’s mother viewing “Beauty Everywhere” by Van Gogh.
Ellen with her family on the steps of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
