A new community space and parking deck is in development at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
Working in partnership with the Amazeum, Crystal Bridges will be creating a four-acre community playscape, which will be called Convergence. This public space is designed to be a family-friendly play space “inclusive for guests of all ages,” according to a news release.
Funded by the Walton Family Foundation’s Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program, the Convergence project is still in the schematic design phase. Museum leadership expects to share further details on the project’s timeline at a later date.
Convergance’s design is expected to utilize the area’s natural surrounding and incorporate interactive technology and water features.
“For nearly a decade, Crystal Bridges has offered a place to enjoy a unique blend of art, nature, and architecture on our 120 acres of beautiful Ozark forest,” Rod Bigelow, Crystal Bridges executive director and chief diversity and inclusion officer said in a statement. “As Northwest Arkansas increases access to quality-of-life amenities, we are excited to activate our grounds in new ways. Working with the Scott Family Amazeum, Marlon Blackwell Architects, and Studio Bryan Hanes, we are creating a more dynamic, cultural ecosystem on our campus that expands art, nature, architecture, and play.”
There is also a new parking deck in the works, withMarlon Blackwell Architects serving as the designer for the project. This parking structure will provide 800 free parking spots for Crystal Bridges, Convergence, the Amazeum and other cultural spots.
The structure will not only provide parking but space for more cultural programming. It will feature a proscenium with two levels of programming space on the west side of the building.
This parking structure will be located on the east side of Crystal Bridges’ campus and north of the Amazeum. Construction is expected to commence in spring 2021 with a completion scheduled for fall 2022.
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Rendering by Studio Bryan Hanes