The recent unveiling of the redeveloped Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, ends a decade-long expansion programme that represents the most significant transformation of the 140-acre site since the first building opened to the public in 1955.
The institute, which is named after its founders, the collectors Sterling and Francine Clark, has a strong collection that includes American and European art, including prints and drawings, sculpture, decorative arts and paintings.
The Clark is part of a trio of significant arts organisations in the north of the Berkshires alongside the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and the Williams College Museum of Art.
The reinstallation of the permanent collection saw the return of 73 works from the Clark’s collection of 19th-century French paintings after a three-year world tour. The Clark also reopened with two temporary exhibitions: one dedicated to bronzes from the Shanghai Museum, and another showing the work of American sculptor David Smith.
The redevelopment of the Clark features the work of four architectural practices: Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, which created the 42,000 sq ft visitor centre; Selldorf Architects, which worked on the expanded museum building and the renovated Manton Research Centre; architect Reed Hilderbrand was responsible for the Clark’s landscaping, including a three-tiered pool that forms the centrepiece of the site; and Gensler was the executive architect for all phases of the project.
The expansion has added more than 13,000 sq ft of gallery space, as well as a range of new facilities for visitors, including retailing, catering and improved circulation and lighting.
The renovated Manton Research Centre has a new centre to study works on paper with an adjoining gallery and another gallery dedicated to the study of British art. An all-glass pavilion provides a new entrance to the original museum building.
Sustainability has been an important part of the Clark’s redevelopment, which features a range of energy-saving initiatives such as waste management and environmental controls. The landscaping includes plantings of native species and the removal of invasive plants.
What were the main aims of the expansion?
Michael Conforti: The expansion was accomplished in order to provide space to appropriately accommodate the Clark’s burgeoning programmes – both in the museum and our research and academic programme.
Was it challenging to work with four different architects?
Working with four principals allowed all voices at the table to be heard and resulted in a project that provided the best framework for creativity and ingenuity to come to the forefront. The collaboration within the architectural team and with the Clark led to the best project.
What are the main strengths of your collection?
The Clark is best known for its holdings of French paintings, most significantly those of the French Impressionists. But the institute also has important collections of Old Master paintings and works by American painters, including one of the largest private collections of Winslow Homer.
What types of audiences do you attract?
The Clark attracts more than 200,000 visitors a year, making it one of the largest tourist attractions in the Berkshires region of Massachusetts. Visitors range from schoolchildren to leading art historians and scholars from around the globe.
Art lovers, nature lovers and many who discover the Clark as tourists return again and again to view the collection and experience the distinctive opportunity to appreciate art in nature that is unique to the Clark.
What do you hope to achieve with your temporary exhibitions programme?
The Clark’s special exhibitions programme is designed to extend and expand the public understanding of art and to explore new ideas surrounding art.
With the new special exhibition galleries, the Clark has facilities that provide opportunities to explore different types of art, allowing it to embrace projects that include more modern and contemporary art.
What is the most innovative part of the redevelopment and expansion?
The most innovative part of the campus expansion programme involves the sustainability initiatives that were a core component of our project goals. The water-management system on the site reduces the Clark’s overall water consumption and integrates water management in ways that create new levels of stewardship and sustainability on the campus.
The institute, which is named after its founders, the collectors Sterling and Francine Clark, has a strong collection that includes American and European art, including prints and drawings, sculpture, decorative arts and paintings.
The Clark is part of a trio of significant arts organisations in the north of the Berkshires alongside the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and the Williams College Museum of Art.
The reinstallation of the permanent collection saw the return of 73 works from the Clark’s collection of 19th-century French paintings after a three-year world tour. The Clark also reopened with two temporary exhibitions: one dedicated to bronzes from the Shanghai Museum, and another showing the work of American sculptor David Smith.
The redevelopment of the Clark features the work of four architectural practices: Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, which created the 42,000 sq ft visitor centre; Selldorf Architects, which worked on the expanded museum building and the renovated Manton Research Centre; architect Reed Hilderbrand was responsible for the Clark’s landscaping, including a three-tiered pool that forms the centrepiece of the site; and Gensler was the executive architect for all phases of the project.
The expansion has added more than 13,000 sq ft of gallery space, as well as a range of new facilities for visitors, including retailing, catering and improved circulation and lighting.
The renovated Manton Research Centre has a new centre to study works on paper with an adjoining gallery and another gallery dedicated to the study of British art. An all-glass pavilion provides a new entrance to the original museum building.
Sustainability has been an important part of the Clark’s redevelopment, which features a range of energy-saving initiatives such as waste management and environmental controls. The landscaping includes plantings of native species and the removal of invasive plants.
What were the main aims of the expansion?
Michael Conforti: The expansion was accomplished in order to provide space to appropriately accommodate the Clark’s burgeoning programmes – both in the museum and our research and academic programme.
Was it challenging to work with four different architects?
Working with four principals allowed all voices at the table to be heard and resulted in a project that provided the best framework for creativity and ingenuity to come to the forefront. The collaboration within the architectural team and with the Clark led to the best project.
What are the main strengths of your collection?
The Clark is best known for its holdings of French paintings, most significantly those of the French Impressionists. But the institute also has important collections of Old Master paintings and works by American painters, including one of the largest private collections of Winslow Homer.
What types of audiences do you attract?
The Clark attracts more than 200,000 visitors a year, making it one of the largest tourist attractions in the Berkshires region of Massachusetts. Visitors range from schoolchildren to leading art historians and scholars from around the globe.
Art lovers, nature lovers and many who discover the Clark as tourists return again and again to view the collection and experience the distinctive opportunity to appreciate art in nature that is unique to the Clark.
What do you hope to achieve with your temporary exhibitions programme?
The Clark’s special exhibitions programme is designed to extend and expand the public understanding of art and to explore new ideas surrounding art.
With the new special exhibition galleries, the Clark has facilities that provide opportunities to explore different types of art, allowing it to embrace projects that include more modern and contemporary art.
What is the most innovative part of the redevelopment and expansion?
The most innovative part of the campus expansion programme involves the sustainability initiatives that were a core component of our project goals. The water-management system on the site reduces the Clark’s overall water consumption and integrates water management in ways that create new levels of stewardship and sustainability on the campus.
Project data
- Cost $145m
- Funders numerous public and private sources, Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund
- Architects Tadao Ando Architect & Associates; Selldorf Architects; Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture; Gensler
- Masterplanning Cooper, Robertson & Partners
- Interiors, retail and dining areas Why Architecture
