The new arts campus, designed by global architecture and design firm Morphosis, has opened in Dallas, Texas. This marks the beginning of the first phase of construction for Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenæum, a twelve-acre expansion of the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas). The Athenaeum complex will include three main buildings: the Crow Museum of Asian Art (Phase 1), Exposition Hall (Phase 2), and the Museum of Traditional Arts of the Americas (Phase 3). The first phase of the plan, the Crowe Museum of Asian Art, is expected to be completed in 2024. The entire project was catalyzed by a $32 million donation from the O’Donnell Foundation.
This new cultural precinct, located on the southeast end of the University of Texas at Dallas campus, aims to become an artistic destination for students, faculty, and the community. It also marks the latest milestone in the period of significant growth for the arts at UT Dallas, a school that has historically focused on science, engineering, technology, and business.
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The Crow Museum of Asian Art will display a diverse collection of ancient and contemporary art from Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam. For this function, Morphosis has designed 16,000 square feet of flexible gallery space as well as a state-of-the-art conservation lab, classroom spaces, administrative offices, and a Brettell reading room. The entire collection was donated by the Crow family as well as $25.45 million in support funding.
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The Museum of Traditional Arts of the Americas, to be built at a later stage, highlights the growing collection of Latin American folk art, consisting of the collections of Roger Horcho, the Laura and Dan Buckman Collection of Latin American Folk Art, and the Bryan J. Stevens Collection of Sierra de Puebla Masks. .
The heart of the project is defined by a two-acre plaza, flanked by new buildings on two sides: the three cultural institutions to the west and the 1,100-car parking building to the east, disguised by a free-standing wall. All three cultural buildings are designed with second floors larger than the ground floor. This creates shaded outdoor spaces that allow all the buildings to blend in with the plaza. Landscaped gardens, tree-lined walkways, and paved open spaces have become spaces for study, student gatherings, performances, art performances, and daily life on campus. Contemporary sculptures from the Crow Museum’s collection will also help define the character of these spaces.
The entire Athenaeum complex was designed by Los Angeles-based architecture firm Morphosis Architecture after international research. The firm has created a coherent vision and master plan for the Athenæum that combines architecture and landscape to give the new area a distinct identity. Founded and led by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne, Morphosis has practiced at the intersection of architecture, urbanism and design for more than 50 years. Through its research arm, The Now Institute, the company collaborates with academic institutions to create design-based solutions to today’s pressing issues, from mobility, urban revitalization, and sustainability to public policy.
Morphosis is pleased to partner with the University of Texas at Dallas for this important project, giving us the opportunity to help shape the university’s bold vision for the arts on campus. O’Donnell Athenæum will transform the UT Dallas campus with buildings and open spaces for the visual and performing arts that will allow both students and the surrounding community to experience the convergence of art and architecture in ways not previously possible at the university — Arne Emerson, Morphosis Partner and design partner leading the project
Morphosis is known for its striking designs, striking a balance between sculptural and harmonious forms. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, also in Dallas, and Emerson College in Los Angeles are further evidence of their bold approach to architectural design. The office is also involved in other initiatives such as offering lessons on model making or exploring XR and the future of design technologies.