On Monday, October 18, 2010, the Kimbell Art Museum begins site preparation for the construction of its much-anticipated additional building, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW). A separate structure located to the west of the existing building by Louis I. Kahn, the new facility will allow the Kimbell for the first time to exhibit most of its permanent collection while hosting major special exhibitions. It will also provide studios and classrooms to better serve the museum’s education programs, and feature an approximately 300-seat auditorium that will have excellent acoustics for music.

“We are thrilled to get this project started,” commented Eric M. Lee, director of the Kimbell Art Museum. “It is an important moment in the history of the Museum and our community.”

During this preparatory phase of the building process, workers will install a fence and erosion controls, and relocate the utilities currently along Will Rogers Road. Trees and shrubs, many of which are unhealthy or are nearing the end of their life expectancy, will be removed. Later in the building program there will be a complete replanting and landscaping, the details of which have yet to be finalized. The low travertine wall located in front of the Kahn building’s yaupon-holly court will be removed during the preparatory phase but will be replaced exactly as before.

The Piano-designed museum building is scheduled to open in 2013. The Kimbell’s Louis Kahn structure will remain open throughout construction.

*Additional press materials on the building project are available upon request.