Chicago's Art Institute Gets a Conservation Upgrade

The Art Institute of Chicago is planning a major upgrade. Starting in early 2026, they will transform a former exhibition space into a world-class conservation center. This project, costing around $50 million, is a big deal. It will be the largest change to the museum since the Modern Wing was completed in 2009. The new center, named the Grainger Center for Conservation and Science, will be 25, 000 square feet. It will include labs, offices, a study center, and a gallery. Visitors will be able to see conservation work in action. This is part of a growing trend in museums. They want to show people how conservation works and why it matters.The center will take over Regenstein Hall, which has been the main temporary exhibition gallery since 1988. Regenstein Hall will move to a smaller space temporarily. This new space is about half the size of the original. But the museum is confident it can still accommodate visitors. The new conservation center will bring together the museum's 30 conservators and 10 other department members. This will make their work more efficient and collaborative. The center will have 20-foot ceilings. This will make it easier to work on large paintings and objects. The project is being designed by the Spanish firm Barozzi Veiga. They were hired in 2017 to create an architectural master plan. The museum's president and director, James Rondeau, described the project as the most significant investment in conservation since the museum hired its first painting conservator in 1956.