We brought you the first look at the original Pugh+Scarpa/Clearscapes designs for Raleigh’s anticipated Contemporary Art Museum (CAM). Last night, a new set of plans was revealed to the public—at least the fourth different scheme we’ve seen in the past few years.
The residential element of the project is gone, and the building is a renovation of the current space, with the addition of a porch and lobby area. The existing parking lot will become a garden and open space for public and event use. The interior retains the existing building and its large, original steel trusses. The current building has three different levels and, as seen in the renderings, by cutting a large piece of the top floor out, the design connects all three levels, creating a more dynamic space for art and gathering.
This should be a good addition to the Warehouse District, which is becoming increasingly saturated with arts and culture. The first Pugh+Scarpa design would demolish the existing building—another step towards a loss of history and industrial vibe for the neighborhood. In whatever form, CAM has the potential to increase the number of events, foot traffic, and business for this area. When asked if the residential component was still in the long-term plans for CAM, Louis Cherry mentioned that the museum would either seek to develop the parking lot adjacent to the existing building, or seek another site altogether in attempt to realize a project which would align more with the spirit of the previous design that we’ve seen.
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