5.5.2025 /

Designing the Next Chapter for Beloved Cultural Institution Storm King Art Center

The Ticketing Pavilion pairs historic stone with thermally modified wood and dark metal, creating a warm, modern threshold that sets the tone for the visitor experience.

Image courtesy of Richard Barnes

On May 1, Storm King Art Center marked a major milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its first-ever capital project. Designed by WXY architecture + urban design in collaboration with heneghan peng architects, the project reimagines how visitors arrive, move through, and connect with this extraordinary landscape for art.

The design introduces a new arrival sequence that begins with a thoughtfully composed Outdoor Lobby. A set of timber-clad Welcome Pavilions offers ticketing, restrooms, and group orientation while eliminating vehicle traffic from the heart of the site. Five acres of former parking have been restored to meadow and exhibition space, reinforcing Storm King’s identity as a place where nature leads.

Visitors now follow a single, winding path that gradually reveals key views and artworks. The approach moves from high ground to low, offering an accessible, immersive experience that reflects Storm King’s longstanding commitment to discovery and connection.

WXY focused on a design that keeps the experience of art and landscape at the center. The new buildings are tucked into the treeline, built with durable materials that will weather into the environment. Nothing competes with the land. Everything supports it.

The project also includes a new Conservation, Fabrication, and Maintenance facility that expands Storm King’s ability to steward large-scale works on site. Designed to optimize energy performance, the building includes passive ventilation, daylighting, and high-performance insulation to reduce operational impact while serving as a hub for art conservation and material experimentation.

This work was completed in close partnership with the Art Center’s leadership, heneghan peng, and the landscape architects Reed Hilderbrand and Gustafson Porter + Bowman. Together, the team has created an infrastructure that protects what makes Storm King special while preparing it for the future.

Storm King officially opens to the public on May 7.

Explore more about the project.

The CFM building supports large-scale art behind a minimal, corrugated metal facade.

Image courtesy of Richard Barnes

The Welcome Pavilion offers an open-air threshold, combining shelter, orientation, and views into the surrounding landscape.

Image courtesy of Richard Barnes

The design team for Storm King Art Center.

Image courtesy of Storm King Art Center