An expanded and renovated Gateway Arch Museum is set to become the cultural centerpiece at Eero Saarinen’s iconic Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, with new ideas and themes that tell a richer story of the American West’s history, says Scott Newman, the architect of the expansion.
Formerly known as The Museum of Westward Expansion, the new Gateway Arch Museum will open July 3rd with a larger and more comprehensive story about American history. Designed by the architect Cooper Robertson, with James Carpenter Design Associates and Trivers Associates, the renamed museum — along with its dramatic new entrance and entry plaza, and landscape designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates — offers improved connection to downtown St. Louis and better access to the Arch itself, with 45,000 square feet of new museum area, including exhibition galleries, public education facilities, and visitor services.
According to Cooper Robertson’s lead architect, Scott Newman, FAIA, the expansion also reinforces a more modern telling of American history with a more inclusive viewpoint. Across six exhibit areas, the reimagined and highly interactive exhibits created by Haley Sharpe Design now emphasizes the perspectives of women and indigenous American peoples, as well as the historic pioneers and European settlers of the American West.
“The design of the expanded Gateway Arch Museum presents a richer story of how the United States came to be, and connects that new narrative to the Arch,” says the architect Newman. “With its focus on the visitor experience, and its contemporary exploration of historical themes that resonate today, like migration, the museum design respects the spirit of Eero Saarinen’s monument while amplifying its relevance.”
Just as important, Newman adds, Cooper Robertson’s expansion employs Universal Design standards, ensuring true accessibility for visitors of all abilities.
The Gateway Arch Museum is an initiative of the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, and the project team includes lead architects Scott Newman, FAIA, and Andrew Barwick, AIA, of Cooper Robertson, along with design consultant James Carpenter Design Associates. The exhibitions are by Haley Sharpe Design of London and Toronto, and the St. Louis-based architect Trivers Associates rounds out the design team.
About Cooper Robertson
Recognized internationally for its successes in making thriving places, the award-winning design firm Cooper Robertson integrates architecture and urban design at many scales, from buildings to parks to city districts. Founded in 1979, the firm is directed by a core group of diverse and accomplished professionals including Scott Newman, FAIA, who leads the cultural and educational practice. One of the foremost museum planners and designers in the country, Newman has served as partner-in-charge of the firm’s work with more than 40 museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, Gettysburg, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Yale Center for British Art, Monticello, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago.