construction on snøhetta-designed SFMOMA expansion tops out

construction on snøhetta-designed SFMOMA expansion tops out
photo © drew altizer photograhy
all images courtesy of SFMOMA

marking a major milestone in the transformation of SFMOMA, construction on the snøhetta-designed expansion building topped out on september 10, 2014. the museum celebrated the moment with a ceremony, which saw the placement of the final steel beam – adorned with a small tree. the modern art institution closed its doors just over a year ago to begin work on the 10-story and 235,000 square-foot addition, and will reopen in 2016 with over three times more gallery space.

august 2014: the fully outlined 10-story building with a nearly complete frame
photo © henrik kam

the museum extension approaches natoma street, around the corner from the existing main entrance on the mario botta-designed building. the design reconfigures the entire ground floor to negotiate the double-entry scheme, and offers more free-to-access public areas. numerous sky terraces occupy the northeast façade, to provide ample outdoor space for exhibition and relaxation. for more information and images of the expansion, see designboom’s coverage at the time of the project’s ground breaking.

the steel structure rises above the original SFMOMA building, designed by mario botta
photo © henrik kam

the fully-framed up steel structure reveals the extension’s outline, rising above the brick drum-volume of the botta-building. with much work to go, addition of the cladding has begun, which will give the facility its striated, wind-blown texture.

photo © henrik kam

a crane lifts the final beam to the building’s upper level
photo © drew altizer photograhy

a tree was placed upon the steel member was
photo © drew altizer photograhy

photo © henrik kam

photo © henrik kam

the design incorporates multiple sky terraces along the northeast facing elevation
image © snøhetta