About

Why a New Wing for the Gardner Museum?

In 1999, the Gardner Museum embarked upon a strategic planning process to plan for the future. This process yielded important studies and discussions regarding the preservation of the historic building and its collection. The Museum made the bold decision to build an addition to the palace in order to relieve pressure on the spaces within the building. The new wing, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, opened in January 2012.

Learn more about the building project here, or click the image below to view a gallery of photos of the new wing.

Evening exterior view of the new Evans Way Park lobby entrance of the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Outdoor art installation “Ailanthus” by Stefano Arienti (right). Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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  • Evening exterior view of the new Evans Way Park lobby entrance of the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Outdoor art installation “Ailanthus” by Stefano Arienti (right). Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • The new Evans Way Park lobby entrance of the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • Exterior view of the new Evans Way Park entrance of the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Outdoor art installation “Ailanthus” by Stefano Arienti (right). Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • Evening exterior view of the new Evans Way Park entrance of the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • Evening view of the faade of the new Evans Way Park entrance of the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Outdoor art installation “Ailanthus” by Stefano Arienti (top left). Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • Evening exterior view of the new Hostetter Gallery in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • Evening exterior view of the façade of the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. In view is the Hostetter Gallery (top left), The Living Room visitor orientation space (bottom left), and the glass connector (bottom right). Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • Evening exterior view of the new Hostetter Gallery in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The Living Room visitor orientation space sits below. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • Evening exterior view of the new Hostetter Gallery in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The Living Room visitor orientation space sits below. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • Interior view of the new Hostetter Gallery in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The historic palace is visible through the windows in the rear. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • Interior view of the new Hostetter Gallery in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The historic palace is visible through the windows to the right. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • Interior view of the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum with floating bookshelves adorning hallway walls. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • A view of the new central grand staircase in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The historic palace building is visible through the windows in the rear. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • A view of the new central grand staircase in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The historic palace building is visible through the windows in the rear. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • A view of the new central grand staircase in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • A view of the new central grand staircase in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • A cross-section view of the new central grand staircase in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • A stage level view of Calderwood Hall in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • A stage level view of Calderwood Hall in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • View from a balcony of Calderwood Hall in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • An overhead view of Calderwood Hall in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • A cross-section view of the new central grand staircase in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • A view of Café G, the new restaurant located in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • A view of Café G, the new restaurant located in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • A view of the new Living Room visitor orientation space in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The historic palace building is visible through the windows in the rear. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • A view of the new Living Room visitor orientation space in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Evans Way Park is visible through the windows to the left. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
  • A view of the new Living Room visitor orientation space in the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Photography © Nic Lehoux / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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Building on a Legacy

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