Hood Museum Renovation

Designed by Charles W. Moore and Chad Floyd in 1985, the Hood Museum of Art is home to some 65,000 objects – among the largest and oldest college or university collections in the United States. Unlike traditional art institutions, the Hood is a teaching museum, dedicated to cultivating direct engagement with its visitors and works of art. Due to its age, the building required numerous repairs and lighting upgrades. Increased programming necessitated additional administrative offices and gallery space.

FMS collaborated with Tod Williams Billie Tsien on the renovation of the museum. The project includes five new galleries, a multipurpose lobby, and the revamped Bernstein Center for Object-Based Inquiry: three large classrooms that use technology to aid in students’ and faculty’s research of objects in the collection. LED lighting replaced obsolete light sources in galleries in order to improve artwork displays and minimize show setup time. Lighting in new program spaces such as the Lobby and Classrooms was implemented to adapt to flexible programs such as performances, presentations, or featured gallery space.  Portions of the facade were re-cladded to enhance the Hood’s presence on East Wheelock Street, making the building increasingly visible and welcoming to all. In conjunction with the building’s interior glow, exterior LED lighting highlighted signage to further accentuate the Hood’s presence.