The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has announced the selection of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Selldorf Architects (SOM |Selldorf) to jointly develop a modernization plan for the Museum’s interior and plaza. After nearly a half-century, the Hirshhorn will upgrade galleries and public spaces to respond to the changing needs of a public museum of modern and contemporary art with a larger and more diverse audience.

Melissa Chiu, director of the museum said that “In response to these developments, the revitalization of our museum campus prepares us for the 21st century. We are pleased to work with SOM | Selldorf to do this.”

“We are thrilled to be working together on the revitalization of the Hirshhorn Museum,” said Chris Cooper, FAIA, partner at SOM, and Annabelle Selldorf, FAIA, principal at Selldorf Architects, in a joint statement. “Ensuring that the building is better able to accommodate the museum’s ambitious programs, while serving a larger and more diverse audience, is of critical importance. And we need to be able to do so while making the building more sustainable.”

For more information see article in The Washington Post linked here and on the Hirshhorn’s website here.