Project History:  Building the Buffalo AKG Art Museum: Project History

An aerial photograph of the museum's campus with a rendering of the new building in the top left

2012

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery Future/Forward Strategic Plan by Snøhetta & Brightspot lays the groundwork for a future campus expansion project

January 2013

The Directorship of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery passes to the eleventh director, Janne Sirén

Dr. Janne Sirén with Clyfford Still’s October 1950, 1950. Photograph by Tom Loonan.

October 2014

Albright-Knox Members Meetings introduce the idea of a campus expansion

June 2015

A motion is unanimously approved by the Albright-Knox Board of Directors to endorse the vision for a campus development and expansion project

November 2015

Robert G. Wilmers becomes chairman of the Capital Campaign for the campus development and expansion project

AK360 Capital Campaign Chairman Robert G. Wilmers. Photograph by Tom Loonan.

June 2016

OMA/Shohei Shigematsu is announced as the architectural partner for the campus development and expansion project

OMA Principal and Design Architect Shohei Shigematsu. Photograph by Tom Loonan.

June 2016

Jeffrey Gundlach ignites the Capital Campaign with the promise of a $42.5 million matching gift to leverage the support of individuals, foundations, and government agencies over the course of twelve weeks

Jeffrey Gundlach. Image courtesy of DoubleLine Capital LP.

November 2016

The second round of public meetings in which community members share their hopes for the future of the Albright-Knox with Shohei Shigematsu/OMA takes place

AK360 Public Meeting at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center on November 1, 2016. Photograph by Tom Loonan.

November 2017

Jeffery Gundlach announces a second matching challenge up to $10 million for 2018

June 2018

The Albright-Knox Board of Directors approves expansion schematic design and building footprint, including 30,000 square feet of new gallery space and a reimagined education wing

Sketch of the campus of the new Buffalo AKG Art Museum

April 2019

Albright-Knox announces plans for breaking ground on expansion; activities during construction; and design updates, including a work of art to cover the museum's new indoor Town Square proposed by artist Olafur Eliasson and architect Sebastian Behmann of Studio Other Spaces

Common Sky, 2019, by Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann of Studio Other Spaces. © Studio Other Spaces

November 2019

Museum leaders and elected officials break ground on the project and construction begins

Breaking ground for the future Buffalo AKG Art Museum on November 22, 2019. Photo: Joe Cascio for Buffalo AKG Art Museum

2020

Gilbane Building Company performs mass excavation for the new Gundlach Building and underground parking

Construction on the museum's Elmwood Avenue campus, August 13, 2020. Photograph by Tom Loonan.

2021

Gilbane Building Company finishes the steel frame of the new Gundlach Building

Completed steel frame of the new Jeffrey E. Gundlach Building, July 7, 2021. Photograph by Joe Cascio.

2022

Completion of the Capital Campaign

In 2022, the museum celebrated the official completion of its $230 million capital campaign, the largest such campaign for a cultural institution in the history of Western New York. In total, approximately $195 million was raised for the construction of the Buffalo AKG, with an additional $35 million raised in operating endowment funds.

2023

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum opened on June 12, 2023.