UTAH MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (UMOca) FEASIBILITY STUDY + RE-DESIGN

Sparano + Mooney Architecture worked with Salt Lake County Arts & Culture Division and Utah Museum of Contemporary Art leadership to envision the next phase of this non-collecting art museum. Our goal was to improve interior amenities, exterior distinction and brand awareness, especially involving the museum façade, public art, venue entry and sculpture garden; as well as to differentiate UMOCA from adjacent facilities and increase awareness of UMOCA as a preeminent cultural facility.

Our work consisted of comprehensive interior improvements, a new entry lobby element and an elevated canopy that encapsulates the existing 40,000 SF building and 20,000 SF courtyard space. Programming included re-organizing staff offices and administrative adjacencies for efficiency and tenant improvements, as we also sought space-saver storage solutions, a new loading/unloading configuration, and a new shop location with exterior dust extraction system. Our stakeholder outreach included extensive community engagement process that included local artists, community stakeholders, neighboring businesses and organizations, UMOCA staff and County employees.

Image credit: Sparano + Mooney Architecture (UMOCA Feasibility Study and Re-Design Listening Session)