Staggered Gallery Closures Planned in Bloch Building throughout 2026
Kansas City, MO – As The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City prepares for its future expansion, projects are now underway to proactively preserve and refresh the entire campus to protect the art and improve guests’ experiences. The first visible work will be done on the award-winning Bloch Building, which is now 20 years old and requires preventive maintenance to prolong its lifetime, including the replacement of the building’s original green roof.
Working with the engineering company Walter P. Moore, the museum conducted an extensive study to evaluate the Bloch Building’s condition and determine an improvement plan. Thanks to a generous $20 million grant from the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation, the museum will address this work right away and ensure the vitality of the Bloch Building.
“We are extremely grateful to the Bloch Family Foundation for their generosity and commitment to keeping the Bloch Building in top condition to protect the collection and serve half a million visitors each year.,” said Julián Zugazagoitia, Director & CEO of the Nelson-Atkins. “This essential refresh is Phase One of our multi-year campus transformation, which paves the way for future expansion. We are currently planning and fundraising for the next phase-space to welcome even more of our community to the museum for a wide variety of exhibitions and activities.”
Museum visitors will notice improvement work beginning in mid-January, with staggered gallery closures scheduled throughout the year. The Nelson-Atkins will remain open, and parts of the Bloch Building will be accessible throughout renovations.
“This advancement project will take up to a year as the waterproofing membrane is replaced on the Bloch Building roof with a state-of-the-art system, along with replacement of the soil, grass, and native plants,” said Steve Waterman, Deputy Director, Design & Experience. “That work will be followed by a complete building refresh, painting and repairing interior walls, and resurfacing the floors. We expect to accomplish this needed work with minimal disruption for our guests.”
The general contractor for this project is McCownGordon, a Kansas City-based construction company.
“The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is a vital cornerstone of cultural and educational enrichment—not only for Kansas City, but for the entire region,” said Ramin Cherafat, chairman and chief executive officer at McCownGordon Construction. “We are thrilled to kick off Phase One and bring this transformative project to life for our community. Since our inception, McCownGordon has been deeply committed to supporting the arts and improving the lives of those in our communities—and this project will do exactly that.”
There will also be a complete assessment of the museum’s original 1933 building and the new addition proposed by WEISS/MANFREDI and its integration into the museum’s campus. As the Nelson-Atkins thrives as a cultural destination and attendance levels reach over 600,000 visitors per year, the museum is actively evaluating opportunities to improve infrastructure, accessibility, and efficiency of the campus – essentially ensuring that these iconic structures can continue to provide engaging and inclusive experiences for all guests.
Leading the museum’s campus improvement is Dan Wehmueller, who has been hired as the Executive Project Manager. Wehmueller, a licensed architect with 21 years of experience, will provide leadership and oversight with executive and trustee stakeholders, architectural and construction project teams, and internal contributors. He will ensure the project remains financially stable, is aligned with the museum’s strategic goals, and stays on schedule. Wehmueller brings a wealth of experience as both an Owner’s Representative and client lead overseeing complex, high-profile jobs and nurturing client relationships on projects such as the Johnson County Courthouse, Kansas City Art Institute’s Vanderslice Hall, and St. Teresa’s Academy Donnelly Hall.
The museum has also hired Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated, a global commercial real estate and investment management company, as its Owner’s Representative. The JLL team will support the campus work and planned expansion in a number of ways, including providing subject matter expertise and insight on the design and construction.
A local architect is expected to be hired in Spring 2026 and will join the WEISS/MANFREDI team on the expansion project. A Request for Qualifications, outlining the requirements for potential respondents, will be made public in January.
Photo credit: Beth Byers
About McCownGordon
McCownGordon Construction is recognized as one of the nation’s top construction managers. Focused on core values of integrity, relationships and performance, McCownGordon commits to building collaborative partnerships and specializes in construction management, design-build, and general contracting. With strong experience and expertise in a variety of market sectors, the company is 100 percent employee-owned and was named one of the Best Places to Work in Kansas City by the Kansas City Business Journal 19 times. It also ranks as the #10 Best Construction Company to Work for in the United States by Fortune Magazine. More information about McCownGordon is available at www.mccowngordon.com.