Presented by Tereza Weist, AIA, LEED AP, Hennebery Eddy Architects
CE Pending

Thriving cultural institutions are critical in supporting vibrant cities: they are key places where we commune and share experiences. The Portland Art Museum Rothko Pavilion & Expansion better integrates existing museum buildings while also bolstering PAM’s relationship to its urban context in Portland’s downtown.

Additionally, PAM used the project to reframe how art can be and should be accessible to all. Art museums have been criticized for being exclusionary institutions that center white, wealthy experiences behind fees and opaque walls. The Rothko Pavilion, with its welcoming Community Commons, a passageway that provides views into the new Black Art and Experiences gallery, and improved navigation, moves beyond convention and prioritizes visual, physical, and programmatic accessibility.

This session will explore how the transformed Portland Art Museum evolves the tradition of a museum to a culturally-relevant community hub where all are welcome.