Atlanta art district set for makeover - Front Page - Woodruff Art Center - Brief Article

Art in America, Feb, 2002

The Woodruff Art Center in Atlanta recently announced a $100-million expansion and renovation project designed by architect Renzo Piano. Encompassing the High Museum of Art, the Atlanta College of Art, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Alliance Theater, the vast undertaking aims to transform the Woodruff Arts Center into an integrated urban campus.

Piano's plan calls for a series of plazas, walkways, pedestrian bridges and outdoor sculpture installations to connect the various institutions. Also on order are new buildings, including a student residence hall and a sculpture center. A key part of the scheme is a major expansion of the High Museum. New galleries for the permanent collection, as well as expanded educational and research facilities, will be linked to the existing Richard Meier-designed structure. The project was initiated with a $25-million grant from the Atlanta-based Robert W. Woodruff Foundation; the reminder will come from private donors and various fundraising activities. Construction is set to begin late this year.