Revitalization of the Portland Art Museum — and the transformative impact of the new Rothko Pavilion — are the subject of a recent feature in the New York Times, “Bringing the Portland Art Museum Back to Life.” The Rothko Pavilion and associated campus renovations were designed in partnership by Portland’s Hennebery Eddy Architects and Chicago-based Vinci Hamp Architects and set to open in November 2025.
Part of the “NYT Fine Arts & Exhibits” section on how creativity can inspire in challenging times, the article highlights the campaign to infuse new life into both the museum and downtown Portland and the role of the $116 million museum expansion — one of the most significant capital investments in the arts in Oregon’s history.
Named for the famed painter who spent his formative years in Portland, the Rothko Pavilion establishes a dramatic new main entry to the Portland Art Museum, welcoming visitors with universal access, transparency, and a strong connection to its urban neighborhood. Bridging the former right-of-way between Pietro Belluschi’s original museum complex (1932-72) and the Mark building, a former Masonic Temple (Fred Fritsch, 1927) now home to the museum’s contemporary art collection, the new pavilion links previously discontinuous circulation and disparate floor elevations, creating an intuitive and cohesive venue for art.