Joslyn Art Museum

Omaha, NE

In 2021 the famed Joslyn Art Museum broke ground on a stunning $100M+, 42,000 SF expansion that will usher in a new standard for museum design and construction.

Pieces from the Phillip G. Schrager Collection of Contemporary Art were donated to the permanent collection of the museum and will sit in galleries where both patrons and artwork alike will be protected from sunlight with the most complex shading systems in the state. The shading system - based around the Draper I/O control backbone - features numerous custom-designed components and required careful coordination between structural, curtain wall, mechanical, electrical, and ceiling scopes.

A unique dual-angled facade in the museum promenade utilizes a bespoke Guillaume Janssen tensioned system fabricated in Denmark to meet the design team's vision of the space.

The networked system enables the client to control the shades based on scheduled events, exhibits, and even tailor response specifically based on sun position. Many small-scale changes are continuously worked into the shading system as the design was tailored to react to the minute details of the daylighting study.

Construction will be completed in 2024.

Architects: Snøhetta & APMA

Engineer: Morrissey

General Contractor: Kiewit Building Group