Mississippi Museum of Art

Jackson, Mississippi

 

Project Description

The design of the new Mississippi Museum of Art building celebrates the museum’s mission of inclusion. The roof of the existing building was raised and the walls glazed at the entrance to create a light-filled public room, at once striking and comfortable. From the street and gardens outside, visitors see not only the entrance to the Museum but the art, the shop, the café and other visitors inside the building.

The largest of the museum’s five galleries is dedicated to an evolving exhibition of work by Mississippi artists. Rather than create a separate gallery for families and children, Family Corners within the galleries invite visitors of all ages engage with original art. Comfortable furniture and benches encourage them to linger in the galleries.

 

 

The gallery partitions stop at 11’-0” so the scale and openness of the original structure is preserved. The floors are covered with a cork tile that absorbs sound but gives a warm and natural feeling to the spaces. Views through the galleries and windows to the city beyond help the visitors orient themselves in the museum and allow unexpected connections between works of art. Along the north face of the building, existing floor-to-ceiling windows bring natural light into the new studio art classrooms and meeting

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM

  • Madge Bemiss, Madge Bemiss Architect

  • Sebastian Meussling, Glave & Holmes Associates

  • Betsy Bradley, director, Mississippi Museum of Art

  • Mike McBride, Dale and Associates

  • Jim Stokoe and Val Lewton, Archetal

  • George Sexton and Associates

  • Steve R. Keller and Associates