Museum of American Art - Crystal Bridges

Architect

Safdie Architects
Somerville, Massachusetts

Consulting Architect

Nabholz
Little Rock, Arkansas

General Contractor

Linbeck
Houston, Texas

Using 68,000 square feet of copper, the Museum of American Art - Crystal Bridges unites the power of art with the beauty of landscape. Twenty-ounce copper panels were chosen to give this building's seven roofs a smooth appearance as the panels transitioned over the many different radii, interrupted only by the clean sweep of skylights running from eave to eave. Where skylights were not desired, stainless-steel troughs were installed to mimic the visual appearance. Each piece necessitated field fabrication prior to installation by project craftsmen.

Wal-Mart heiress Alice Walton is behind Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas. Copper was selected for this building project because the owner and architects wanted a material that would highlight the geometry of the roofs and stand out against the architectural concrete that dominates the facades. The system was designed to achieve not only a unique aesthetic, but a specific functionality. Copper provided a durable, long-lasting and beautiful skin that no other building material could in this design.

Architectural Category: Exotic or Unusual Applications