These are the six firms selected as finalists for the Nelson-Atkins Museum expansion competition

The six finalists vying for the chance to design an expansion of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City have been selected ahead of next spring’s winner announcement.

The first stage of the competition, which we announced last month, attracted 182 entries from 30 different countries on six continents. The museum’s selection committee expanded the shortlist from five to six teams in recognition of their designs’ excellence. The finalists will next visit the museum for a detailed introduction before they begin working on concept designs over the next three months.

The six lead firms for the expansion are:

1. Kengo Kuma & Associates (Tokyo) 
2. Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Genoa) 
3. Selldorf Architects (New York) 
4. Studio Gang (Chicago) 
5. Weiss/Manfredi Architecture (New York)
6. WHY Architecture (Los Angeles)

Whoever does win will be working within an anticipated budget of between $160 million – $170 million. Finalists were not required to submit a design proposal with the initial selection round. Each team will receive a competition fee of $75,000 for their design work when the competition concludes.

Julián Zugazagoitia, the Director & CEO of the Nelson-Atkins said finally: "The invitation to envision our future was a call-out to creativity. We’re at an invigorating moment for the museum. Though this is a complex project requiring deep analysis and rigor around the budget, all options are on the table. The interest in this project is a recognition of how the acclaimed Bloch Building expansion by Steven Holl captured the public imagination and was pivotal for the Nelson-Atkins in increasing museum attendance and access.”

A winner will be announced in the spring of 2025.