LMN Architects

Seattle Asian Art Museum

Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Tim Griffith

SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM

LMN Architects

ARCHITECTS
LMN Architects

AREA
64250 ft²

YEAR
2020

PHOTOGRAPHS
Tim Griffith, Adam Hunter / LMN Architects

CATEGORY
Museum

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Walker Macy

LOCATION
Seattle, United States

MANUFACTURERS
Lightblocks

CIVIL ENGINEER
Coughlin Porter Lundeen

LIGHTING DESIGN
Fisher Marantz Stone

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Stantec

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
BNBuilders

MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Rushing Company

DESIGN TEAM
Yomi Adeyemi, Robert Ames, Aaron Argyle, Henry Butitta, Michael Day, Melissa Eby, Tiffani Erdmanczyk, Anya Fiechtl, Mette Greenshields, Joanne Koola, Mark Lo, Samuel Miller, Lori Naig, Lauren Patnoe, Wendy Pautz, Christopher Patterson, Francene Ray, Ayako Sakurai, Jeremy Schoenfeld, Kathy Stallings, Jennifer Tamblin, Megan Taylor, Pamela Trevithick, Paulina Wilkowska, John Woloszyn

ENVELOPE CONSULTANT
RDH Building Science

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Magnusson Klemencic Associates

HISTORIC PRESERVATION CONSULTANT
BOLA Architecture and Planning

OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE
OAC Services

The design represents the first substantial renovation, addition, and the seamless integration of the building’s spectacular site with the museum’s mission for the 21st century: to showcase Asian art in conjunction with contemporary educational and conservation spaces.

Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Tim Griffith
Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Tim Griffith

A set of steps lead to the Art Deco lobby entrance on the west side of the building. Once inside, the Entry Lobby connects to the Fuller Garden Court and unfolds into the new Park Lobby.

All three spaces create a new circulation spine joining the building with the park and the park with the building.

Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Tim Griffith
Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Adam Hunter / LMN Architects

The renovation and addition reaffirm the original character of the Fuller Garden Court as the central hub of the museum which not only provides access to the gallery spaces but also establishes a sense of expectation that is reinforced by the two new portals that open to the Park Lobby.

The new lobby is the vertical connector to new program spaces and is composed mostly of glass, giving the impression that space is floating in the landscape.

Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Adam Hunter / LMN Architects
Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Adam Hunter / LMN Architects

The circulation interconnects each volume, ultimately connecting everything to the park and the original elements. The Entrance Level encompasses all lobbies, existing gallery spaces, and an all-new 2,658 sq. ft. gallery which adds significant additional space for the museum.

The Ground Level and Basement Level have a similar building program composed of ancillary spaces, art storage, meeting spaces, and offices.

The Ground Level also contains a library, conservation studio, 201-seat auditorium, and a community education space.

The renovation provides daylight to the octagonal galleries with lightboxes built into the ceiling that emulates natural daylight while providing the museum with a modern lighting system.

Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Adam Hunter / LMN Architects
Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Adam Hunter / LMN Architects
Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Adam Hunter / LMN Architects

This artificial lighting allows the museum to set the stage for new art, better preserve their collection, and provide newfound flexibility for future displays.

The building components and the interior spaces have been renovated and organized to maximize program space and functionality as well as take advantage of their own tectonic identity.

Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Tim Griffith
Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Adam Hunter / LMN Architects

In addition to the façade restoration work, major upgrades were completed to the walls, floors, and ceiling elements in the existing galleries to modernize the space to be structurally sound and meet code requirements.

The Seattle Asian Art Museum honors and preserves the architectural legacy of the historic building and integrity of the Park while providing space for deeper explorations of the diverse, artistic, and cultural traditions of Asia.

Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Adam Hunter / LMN Architects
Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Adam Hunter / LMN Architects

The new addition of a dedicated community education space provides visitors enjoyment and access to public programming and community events.

The new expanded and renovated gallery space enables the museum to showcase more of its permanent collection and organize special exhibitions offering broader perspectives on Asia’s traditions and contemporary issues.

Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Tim Griffith
Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Tim Griffith

Reflecting a complex organization of requirements, the museum integrates nature, architecture, history, and art on a poetic and intimate scale.

Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Tim Griffith
Seattle Asian Art Museum
© Tim Griffith


Seattle Asian Art Museum
Cross section
Seattle Asian Art Museum
Longitudinal section


Seattle Asian Art Museum
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Seattle Asian Art Museum
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Seattle Asian Art Museum
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Seattle Asian Art Museum
Site plan


Seattle Asian Art Museum
Exploded axonometric heat map
Seattle Asian Art Museum
Building development history

LMN Architects
T +1 206 6823460 F +1 206 3439388
LMN Architects
801 2nd Ave #501, Seattle, WA 98104, United States