suspended section
The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center currently exists as a 32,000 sqft conglomeration of red brick industrial buildings. The expansion of the facility aims to double the area of the center while preserving the history and character of the original structure, as the existing facades hold a historic landmark designation. The new addition and remodeled interior engage the art center’s occupants through various spatial elevations and proportions.
The parti of the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center expansion aligns with the mission of the art center: the viewing of art, the creation of art, and community engagement through public and private gathering. Each of those programmatic elements are blocked out within the site and consist of both existing space and newly designed space. The existing raised courtyard, which sits about 4.5 ft above entry level, was dropped a full level to build a subterranean cafe and gift shop off of the new exhibition courtyard. A focal ramping gallery was installed as shown in the rendering shown above to mitigate the change in floor elevation between the various programmatic sections of teh building.