Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Location
Bentonville, AK
Completed
Phase 1: 2011
Phase 2 and 3: Ongoing
Size
93,000 SF
Owners
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Architect
Safdie Architects
Photographer
© Timothy Hursley
Design Team
Located in a beautiful, wooded river valley, the museum design consists of a series of connected pavilions, organized around two reflecting ponds. Two of the pavilions are constructed as bridges that span across the bottom of the river valley, and control the flow of water from the natural spring on site to form the ponds. The vaulted and swoop-shaped ceilings of the various pavilions are made of local yellow pine, which adds warmth and makes a strong connection with the site. A suspended linear lighting system was developed with an armature that follows the ceiling slope in each pavilion. This system contains concealed indirect lighting for a soft ambient glow, when desired, and integrated track lighting for art illumination. Our scope included complete lighting for all of the buildings and site, including the gallery pavilions, dining bridge, Great Hall events pavilion, administrative building, library, support spaces, and parking garage.