Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center (CAC) Renovation
As the Contemporary Art Center (CAC) broadens its educational programming, sustainability priorities, and positive partnerships within its community, the renovation will stand as an embodiment of the institution’s belief in civic exchange through creative expression. New outdoor galleries enable the art center to highlight ecologically-focused, living art while offering an exemplary model of art-making in a space that values indoor environmental health and sustainability in both architectural and art-making material choices. The design creates opportunities for viewports and interaction rather than walls separating studio and gallery spaces, encouraging visitors to explore their creativity with the same curiosity that propels movement through the galleries below. The design celebrates Zaha Hadid’s iconic 2001 building by enhancing physical and programmatic connections between the 6th floor, the city, and its communities while leaving the exterior views of the building unchanged.
Marcus Margerum, the CAC’s Interim Alice & Harris Weston Director stated that “The Creativity Center not only gives us more room to expand the work we’re currently doing with visual and performing arts programming, artist residencies, learning and community-based initiatives, and hands-on intergenerational engagement, but also to reinvent the notion of the contemporary arts institution as a robust resource for creativity. We are excited to partner with Mir Collective on this groundbreaking project, as their creative approach to community engagement, sustainability, and inclusivity aligns closely with our own mission and values as an institution.”
Location
Cincinnati, OH
Owner
Contemporary Art Center
Team
Acoustics - Threshold
Architect - MIR Collective
Size
9,000 square feet
Schedule
Completed 2022