Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos are winners of the Reimagining the Dallas Museum of Art International Design Competition

Madrid-based Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos has been announced as the winner of the Reimagining the Dallas Museum of Art International Design Competition. 

Following a six-month contest that attracted 154 submissions worldwide, NSA's proposal was formally approved by the Dallas Museum of Art Board of Trustees this week.

The winning team described their proposal as a “reflection of the original building, transforming the relationship between art, landscape, and community into a balance of memory and innovation.” 

The scheme includes a new 'floating' contemporary art gallery on the roof of the existing 1984 building. The exterior will also include an LED-generated artwork mediated by a perforated surface. Meanwhile, transparent glazing at the north façade (Klyde Warren Park) and at the Harwood Street façades at ground level gives passers-by views of visitors inside the Museum engaging with the art.

In winning the contest, Nieto Sobejano saw off competition from five finalist teams led by David Chipperfield Architects, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Johnston Marklee, Michael Maltzan Architecture, and Weiss/Manfredi.

The winning design was praised by the Dallas Museum of Art for offering “potential solutions to address circulation, sustainability, and gallery expansion while respecting the existing building.” The proposal’s approach to sustainability was also applauded for reducing embodied carbon by limiting changes to the existing structure and fabric.

“Their concept design mixes a poetic sensibility with a dynamic and sustainable design strategy that respects Larrabee’s original intentions, all the while preparing us to become a 21st-century museum,” President of the DMA’s Board of Trustees, Gowri N. Sharma, and Chairman of the Board, Jeffrey S. Ellerman, said in a joint statement. “It is the best time in our Museum’s history to transform our building to articulate the dynamic and diverse programming we provide. A transformation to the DMA campus will send a signal that we are inviting everyone near and far to join our vibrant art community.”

Known for their dynamic and innovative façades at the Contemporary Art Centre in Córdoba and the Montblanc Haus in Hamburg, the Spanish design team of Fuensanta Nieto and Enrique Sobejano has previously received accolades including the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, the Hannes Meyer Prize, the Alvar Aalto Medal, and the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts from the Government of Spain.