francis kéré designs las vegas museum of art

The Las Vegas City Council approved detailed plans for the future Las Vegas Museum of Art (LMVA) and granted 1.5 acres of land in Symphony Park to serve as the new institution’s site. As part of their submission, LVMA trustees unveiled an initial concept by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Francis KereThe 8,361 m² complex, which serves more than two million residents year-round, museum is thoughtfully organized, with two floors of exhibition space above an open plaza and adjacent sculpture park. The design transforms the plaza into a veranda, creating an inclusive environment where public amenities intertwine with community events.

Fundraising is in the quiet phase, with a public campaign to be announced within the next few months. Construction is expected to begin no later than February 2027, generating an estimated $191 million in economic activity for Las Vegas (including $80 million in wages). More than 300,000 students in the Clark County School District live within a 10-mile radius of the Symphony Park location and will be among the residents who will benefit from LVMA.

render © Kéré Architecture

expansion of the cultural landscape of the symphony park

Reflecting on the architectural concept, Francis Kéré, founder of Kéré Architecture, shares: ‘Our design combines the beauty of the desert environment with local building principles and the passion and collaborative spirit of the Las Vegas Museum of Art to create a space where dreams become reality..’ LVMA will take its place in Symphony Park alongside institutions including The Smith Center for the Performing Arts (home to the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Nevada Ballet Theater) and the Discovery Children’s Museum. The centrally located 61-acre arts, culture, science and medical care district is also home to more than 600 residential units. It will soon feature a new 400-room Marriott hotel serving the adjacent exhibition and convention center, The Expo at World Market Center.

The museum will be developed in partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the largest and most comprehensive museum in the Western United States. This partnership allows LVMA to borrow artwork, organize exhibitions, customize educational programs, and draw on LACMA’s extensive professional expertise, allowing it to operate at the highest level from the outset.

Francis Kéré | image © Astrid Eckert via Kéré Architecture on Instagram

project information:

name: Las Vegas Museum of Art

architect: Francis Kéré – Kéré Architecture | @kerearchitectuur

location: Symphony Park, Las Vegas, USA

expected start date: February 2027