Project Milestones
1999
Facilities Master Plan identifies current and future needs
2001
Rafael Viñoly named architect
March 2005
Board of Trustees votes to proceed with Phase I
Spring 2005
Permanent collection galleries deinstalled
Summer 2005
Portion of staff moves to Penton Media Building in downtown Cleveland
October 2005
Ground broken for East Wing
January 2006
Museum closes for renovation for six months while programs continue in venues around Cleveland
June 2006
World tour of Modern Masters exhibition drawn from Cleveland’s Impressionist and Modern collections opens in Beijing, China
July 2006
Renovated Marcel Breuer-designed education wing begins reopening
October 2006
Exhibitions resume with Barcelona and Modernity
June 2007
New Central Utility Plant substantially complete
Spring 2007
Monet in Normandy exhibition draws large crowds
October 2007
Expanded parking garage opens
Modern Masters exhibition makes a hometown stop in Cleveland, having already attracted more than 750,000 visitors on worldwide tour
January 2008
1916 building ready for art installation
Spring 2008
East Wing ready for installation (Impressionist, Modern, and contemporary art)
June 29, 2008
Public opening of 1916 main floor
Summer-Fall 2008
Abatement and demolition for west wing and atrium construction
Fall 2008
The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation Special Exhibition Hall in the new east wing opens with Artistic Luxury: Fabergé, Tiffany, Lalique
Spring 2009
Upper level of East Wing opens, impressionist, modern, and contemporary art
Fall 2009
Gartner Auditorium reopens
2010
Lower-level 1916 galleries open (ancient art, Byzantine art)
Spring 2011
Atrium complete
Summer 2011
Staff offices and north galleries complete
Fall 2011
Installation of north galleries (Japan, Korea, Africa, and ancient America)
Construction complete
2012
Installation of west wing galleries (Chinese and Southeast Asian art)
Installation of remaining lower 1916 galleries (Islamic art, textiles, manuscripts)
Rafael Viñoly's concept: the historic 1916 building as the jewel in the ring setting
Phasing Map (PDF)
Construction begins
February 2006: east wing construction under way
Library reading room
East wing gallery doorways align along a single axis
A hardhat tour
Lower level gallery in the historic 1916 building
Cases in the armor court await installation
Construction of a barrel vault ceiling
Finishing touches
Galleries of American art
Visitors in the Armor Court, June 29, 2008
New east wing special exhibition gallery opens, October 2008
Excavations in preparation for atrium and west wing construction, Decebmber 2008
Viñoly's complete plan, estimated completion 2012