Project Description
485 Broadway opened as the Sackler Museum at Harvard University in 1985, designed by renowned British architect, James Stirling. designLAB led the complex re-planning and renovation of the 46,000 SF building, transforming its galleries and museum support spaces into dynamic learning environments for Harvard’s History of Art + Architecture (HAA) Department, Graduate School of Design (GSD) and the new Art Making ‘Annex.’
The challenge for the design team came in balancing the building’s rich architectural legacy with its new programmatic demands. The elemental forms of this iconic post-modern building were preserved, including the entry lobby, main stair, auditorium colonnade, and primary facades. Contemporary studios and classrooms with state-of-the-art technology mingle with these original features to create a compelling interaction between old and new.