KSS Architects have announced the completed renovations to Newark Museum of Art’s Learning and Engagement Center.
The renovation encompassed approximately 6,000 sq. ft. of interior public spaces. KSS redesigned it to be inviting to visitors, while improved vertical access now connects previously hidden and hard-to-reach educational spaces, including classrooms, the auditorium, gallery, and multi-use event spaces.
Completion of the Learning and Engagement Center builds on NMOA’s mission of providing dynamic spaces to its campus, a phased approach that includes the development of new public art and green space, a new progressive gallery, an outdoor sculpture garden, and Museum Parc, neighboring mixed-use residential and retail buildings developed by LMXD, MSquared, and MCI Collective.
The redesigned learning engagement center invites visitors in, while improved vertical access now connects previously hidden and hard-to-reach educational spaces, including classrooms, the auditorium, gallery, and multi-use event spaces, allowing all community members to explore, enjoy, and be inspired.
KSS Architects Partner Jason Chmura was pleased with the renovation.
“The Learning and Engagement Center is the gateway to the arts campus, strengthening the connection between the Newark Museum of Art and the City of Newark as an inclusive cultural anchor,” he said. “The renovation, to open up and transform learning spaces on upper and lower floors of the building.”
Together with Phelps Construction and AKF Group, a member of WSP, KSS Architects’ renovation of the Learning and Engagement Center began in January 2025 to coincide with the start of Museum Parc construction. LMXD, MSquared, and MCI Collective are developing and will own the Museum Parc, which will deliver 250 mixed-income rental apartments across two structures with more than 2,300 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail space. Construction on those buildings is expected to be completed by 2027.
