Expansion of the Kimball Art Center in Utah by BIG

The Kimball Art Center in Park City, renowned primarily as the venue for the Sundance Film Festival, is set to undergo reconstruction and expansion by the Danish studio Bjarke Ingels Group, whose project was selected from five finalists (Brooks + Scarpa, Sparano + Mooney, Tod Williams & Billie Tsien, Will Bruder). The jury ultimately decided on a dynamically rotated wooden tower that will rise 25 meters high in the open space in front of the museum. The architects drew inspiration from the local mining tradition. The wooden extension is intended to become a new symbol of Park City, reminiscent of mining tunnels and the rugged charm of the entire city. The rotated facade surrounds a wide staircase leading visitors from the ground floor to a rooftop terrace, which, due to its generous dimensions, is suitable for hosting outdoor exhibitions and social events. The core of the wooden tower features a multifunctional auditorium that can serve both for film screenings and exhibitions. In addition to gallery spaces, a restaurant is also planned for the ground floor, which can completely open to the street during the summer months. The new Kimball Art Center is to be used for hosting exhibitions, seminars, and festive events, while the existing museum building will be transformed into an educational center. Construction is set to begin next year, with completion planned for 2015.

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