Johnson Museum of Art Addition, Cornell University

Retaining the buff-colored, architectural board-formed concrete of the earlier structure, the addition establishes a clear visual connection with its predecessor while affirming its independent identity. The new building houses the museum’s significant Asian art collection and includes a 150-seat lecture room, art studio, galleries, administrative space, and a large art-storage area. In quiet contrast to its monumental neighbor, the 17,200-square-foot addition is integrated into a sloping swath of lawn north of the existing museum.

While the original building continues to serve as the primary entrance, the new pavilion is designed to operate independently. The two are linked by a new below-grade connection, providing a cohesive experience for museumgoers.

The site’s sloping topography allows daylight to penetrate down to the gallery level, giving the lecture lobby, offices, and studio views of a Japanese garden set into the hillside.