The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Modern and Contemporary Art galleries, closed since 2021 for renovation by Selldorf Architects, reopened on September 22, 2023. The project has greatly enhanced the space for the display of the collection by doubling the amount of wall space and creating new dynamic circulation patterns to reinforce the fluidity between artistic disciplines and historical narratives. Key architectural details, including tall columns, portal skylights and arched, curved ceilings have been refurbished in sensitive balance to the needs of the collection alongside redistributed mechanical systems and new lighting. This project entails the first major reinstallation of the collection since 2006.

Designed by Selldorf Architects, One Domino Square is the latest addition to the iconic Domino Sugar Refinery redevelopment site. Far into construction, Selldorf Architects is working with Two Trees Management and Executive Architects dencityworks architecture. The buildings anchor the southernmost point of the 11-acre public park and are directly adjacent to Domino Square, an open park piazza, which is also under construction.

As part of our commitment to promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Selldorf Architects is delighted to continue its established collaboration with the Architectural Technology Department at New York City College of Technology (City Tech). Our firm offers an annual award that recognizes exceptional students with outstanding design and technical skills. This year, we proudly presented the scholarship to three remarkable individuals.

On May 23, David Zwirner opened two new spaces located at 612 and 616 North Western Avenue in Melrose Hill, Los Angeles. Built in the 1930s, these two existing one-story adjacent buildings were renovated by Selldorf Architects and feature new skylights that fill the galleries with natural light, as well as a dedicated bookshop spotlighting David Zwirner Books.

In its mission to safeguard historic cultural heritage, the World Monuments Fund, in partnership with Square Mile Churches, celebrated Christopher Wren’s 300 remembrance anniversary with a series of ‘Conversations’ to draw attention to the churches’ preservation demands and facilitate a debate about their relevance in the future. On April 27, architecture critic at the Financial Times Edwin Heathcote chaired the discussion with Annabelle Selldorf, Loyd Grossman, entrepreneur, author and broadcaster, and Alex Bremner, Professor of Architectural History at the University of Edinburgh.

On April 18th, Annabelle Selldorf joined New York Magazine critic Justin Davidson in conversation at The Arts Club of Chicago as part of the Don Powell Distinguished Architect Series. The series is meant to engage prominent architects from different backgrounds and pose questions about the current state of design.

Selldorf Architects joined the Office of the Mayor, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the groundbreaking of two major infrastructure projects in Gowanus, CSO Red Hook and CSO Owls Head. The design of these two headhouse buildings will each host an underground storage tank with the combined capacity to store up to 12 million gallons of sewer overflow during heavy rainstorms.

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) has revealed initial designs for the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery. Designed with Diamond Schmitt, and Two Row Architect the expansion project will provide an additional 40,000 sf of galleries for the AGO’s growing collection of modern and contemporary art, increasing the museum’s total space available to display art by 30%.

Selldorf Architects transformed an 11,000 sf vintage automobile sales showroom in a 1930s Spanish Colonial Revival building into the gallery’s second LA location. The renovated building features 6,000 sf of exhibition space framed by exposed wood bow trusses and newly polished concrete floors. Large storefront windows highlight the work on view and welcome the community.

We are proud to share that Annabelle Selldorf received The Ulfers Foundation Award on March 20, 2023. The award is presented by New York University’s Department of German in recognition of an individual whose achievements have served to promote and highlight German culture and history. Past award recipients include Austro-German novelist and playwright Daniel Kehlmann in 2021, and filmmaker Margarethe von Trotta in 2018.

On March 23rd, 2023 Annabelle Selldorf spoke at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, for the museum’s Mary Atkins Lecture Series. The in-person lecture was the first of the series since the pandemic-driven two-year hiatus. In her presentation, Annabelle presented several recent projects including the current renovation and expansion of The Frick Collection, and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego completed in 2022.

Annabelle Selldorf will be speaking at The National Arts Club in New York on Thursday, February 16 where she will discuss a range of international projects by Selldorf Architects including the current work underway at the National Gallery in London. The National Arts Club is an organization intended to stimulate, foster, and promote public interest in the arts and educate people in fine arts. For their 125th anniversary year they are running numerous free public arts and culture programs, including this upcoming lecture.