Columbia Museum of Art
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Role: Architect and Museum Planner for Museum Revitalization, Expansion and Renovations; Led full team of engineers and specialist museum consultants
Program: Art galleries, education areas, collection storage, auditorium, library, lobby, cafe, gift shop, function spaces, classrooms, exhibit support, and offices
Building Area: 130,000 sf
Status: Completed in 2018
Description:
In December of 2018, the Columbia Museum of Art completed its major revitalization, expansion and renovation project. It has now opened to the public, after completing successful planning, capital campaign, design and construction phases.
In 2011, Verner Johnson, along with a full museum consulting team, worked with the Columbia Museum of Art to develop a Comprehensive Master Plan that addresses issues of financial sustainability and facility functionality. This Plan, driven by institutional needs and goals, visitor surveys, and stakeholder interviews, presented strategies to attract visitors and improve their experience, highlight and engage the collection, expand the successful educational program, enhance event/rental opportunities, and increase revenue streams to improve overall financial health.
The Master Plan also called for engaging Main Street with a new entrance, banners, and the renovation of the Museum shop. Gallery spaces would be expanded and improved, allowing for flexibility and display of more of the collection in the permanent galleries. All of the galleries would be reorganized by topic rather than chronology. Dedicated flexible events space would be added on the second floor, providing the opportunity for simultaneous events and increased revenue.
In 2016, after a successful fundraising campaign, VernerJohnson was retained as the Architect to complete the design and construction of the Master Plan combined phases. Working with Columbia-based engineers and specialist museum consultants, our original conceptual designs were further developed to include the new Main Street entrance components, revised and expanded galleries and education spaces, new and improved special events spaces, lobby renovations and back-of-house improvements.
