Construction is well underway for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) expansion by Snøhetta, with local firm EHDD Architecture. Scheduled for completion at the end of October 2015, with an opening exhibition in early 2016, the 235,000-square foot project now wears a largely finished exterior envelope.

A white undulating skin distinguishes the new addition from the masonry stripes of Mario Botta’s 1995 design. Composed of 700 fiberglass reinforced polymer (FRP) rainscreen panels, the new facade incorporates insulation and a fire-resistive concrete finish. The FRP panels, which are significantly lighter than GFRC panels, were designed in conjunction with fabrication team Kreysler and Associates and facade specialists Enclos.

Interior construction is proceeding and one of the highlights of the new design is the amount of space devoted to public access. The entire sequence from the existing Third Street entry lobby through the new 7,750-square foot Art Court admissions area and the 6,700-square foot Howard Street lobby is open to the public, allowing for pedestrians to view artwork without entering the paid areas of the museum. The new Howard Street facade is set back, creating a public alleyway that connects to Natoma Street. When it opens, the new addition will feature wood flooring and black Chinese granite columns to match the existing building.