Californian location influences arts centre concept

On 17th June, the Orange County Museum of Art will close the doors of its Newport Beach premises in order to prepare for a move to a planned building at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. Designs by Morphosis have now been released for the new museum, which will house 25,000 sq ft of exhibition galleries, equating to an increase of approximately 50 percent on current capacity. The new 52,000 sq ft museum will allow OCMA to organize major special exhibitions alongside spacious installations, while providing 10,000 sq ft for education programs, performances, and public gatherings. 

Morphosis were selected for the project following a multi-year planning process and international search. The resulting design concept relates to its location by establishing a connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces, encouraging visitors to immerse themselves in the Californian climate, which has greatly influenced artists over the years. A grand outdoor public stair curves toward the museum’s entry and relates to Connector, a monumental sculpture by Richard Serra. The main floor is dedicated to reconfigurable open-span exhibition space, complemented by mezzanine, black-box, and jewel-box galleries accommodating temporary and permanent collections. The upper level includes administrative areas, while a spacious roof terrace, equivalent in size to 70 percent of the building’s footprint, serves as an extension of the galleries with open-air spaces. 

Architect Thom Mayne stated: “Morphosis’ design for the museum evolved from both the ‘outside-in’ and the ‘inside-out’. The building is a final puzzle piece for the campus at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, responding to the form of the neighbouring buildings and energizing the plaza with a café and engaging public spaces. At the same time, the design also responds to a desire to enhance access to OCMA’s permanent collection through neutral, flexible exhibition spaces that can complement art of all media.”

Lucy Nordberg

TenderStream Head of Research