The Portland Art Museum has completed a $116 million expansion and renovation, integrating two neighboring buildings and adding nearly 100,000 square feet of public and gallery space. The centerpiece is a 21,000-square-foot glass pavilion named after Mark Rothko, who grew up in Portland and attended the museum's art school. The project, largely privately funded, unites the original 1932 Belluschi building with the 1927 Mark Building (a former Masonic Temple) via a transparent, 24-hour pedestrian tunnel. Director Brian Ferriso led the capital campaign, which also raised $30 million for the endowment, and recruited Hennebery Eddy Architects and Vinci Hamp Architects as designers.
This expansion matters because it repositions the museum as a cultural anchor for downtown Portland, which is recovering from post-Covid economic challenges. By naming the pavilion after Rothko and featuring a new Black Art and Experiences gallery, the museum signals a commitment to both local heritage and inclusive programming. The project also resolved a community controversy over public access by ensuring the glass tunnel remains open around the clock, transforming the museum from an "uninviting fortress" into a welcoming beacon. It represents one of the largest capital investments in the arts in Oregon's history.