The footprint of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, the artist’s hometown, will increase by more than 60%. On October 31, the Pittsburgh planning commission gave the green light for the construction of a new 17,500 m² building, at a cost of $45 million.
This building, named “Pop District Entertainment Venue”, will include a performance hall for 1,000 people on the first floor, a mezzanine on the second floor and an event space for up to 360 people, with a balcony offering views of the museum and the city center, on the fourth. The third floor will be converted into offices.
Construction of the building should begin in the spring of 2024 in a parking lot located opposite the museum, with an opening in 2026. Based in Pittsburgh, Desmone Architects will draw inspiration from Warhol’s art to design the building. , including one of the artist’s paintings of caged birds to create a play of light on the exterior of the performance hall, explained Eric Booth, president of the architectural firm.
This extension is part of “Pop District”, a $60 million initiative, launched in 2022, aimed at transforming the North Shore neighborhood into a cultural hub. Over a ten-year period, the museum plans to culturally revitalize the former industrial city by expanding its operations over six city blocks. He hopes to develop tourism and the local economy by creating new jobs and activities for new generations, particularly those from minorities. “The Pop District will demonstrate the role that museums can and must play in their communities by being centers of innovation and catalysts for economic development”Steven Knapp, president of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the organization that manages the Warhol Museum, told Artnews.
The Pittsburgh Museum is the largest museum in North America dedicated to a single artist. It was established in 1994 by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, in collaboration with the Dia Art Foundation and the Carnegie Institute. Today, the institution has more than 500,000 pieces. From 2026, the museum will offer “hundreds” of events, linked to the museum’s programming or current music, announced Dan Law, deputy director of the Andy Warhol Museum.
