The Portland Art Museum (PAM) will reopen its completely renovated campus on November 20 after nine years and $111 million in construction. The centerpiece is the Mark Rothko Pavilion, a glass structure that connects the museum's two historic buildings—the Main Building (1932) and the Mark Building (1924)—replacing a confusing underground tunnel that often caused visitors to miss entire exhibitions. The renovation touches 100,000 square feet total, including a new media gallery, upgraded spaces, and a 24/7 public passageway through the pavilion. An exhibition of eight paintings by Mark Rothko, who spent his childhood in Portland, will open alongside the pavilion.
This renovation matters because it solves a long-standing navigational problem that made the museum a 'rabbit warren' and deterred visitors, potentially increasing attendance and engagement. The project also strengthens PAM's connection to its community by incorporating public feedback—such as preserving a pedestrian walkway—and honors local art history through the Rothko Pavilion, named after the abstract expressionist who took his first art classes at the museum. The redesign, inspired by Apple stores' transparency, aims to make the museum more inviting and accessible, setting a model for urban museum transformations.