Las Vegas, known for its vibrant entertainment scene and iconic casinos, is set to add a major cultural landmark to its downtown area. The Las Vegas City Council has approved the initial plans for the Las Vegas Museum of Art (LVMA), a 90,000-square-foot (8,350-square-meter) cultural institution designed by renowned Burkinabè architect and 2022 Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate, Diébédo Francis Kéré. Located in the Symphony Park district, the museum will be developed in partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
The LVMA is poised to become a cornerstone of Symphony Park, a rapidly developing mixed-use cultural district in downtown Las Vegas. Symphony Park, formerly a railyard, has already attracted significant cultural institutions such as The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, the Discovery Children’s Museum, and the Frank Gehry-designed Keep Memory Alive Event Center. The addition of the LVMA further solidifies the area’s growing reputation as a hub for arts and culture.
The site for the museum, currently a surface parking lot, will be transformed into a dynamic cultural space, thanks to Kéré’s visionary design. The building will feature two floors of gallery space raised above a vibrant plaza that will serve as a public gathering space. The museum’s design aims to create a “front porch” effect, blending public amenities with community events, thus enhancing the character of Symphony Park as a neighborhood and cultural destination.
Kéré’s design for the LVMA draws inspiration from the surrounding Nevada desert, integrating local building principles with a contemporary aesthetic. The architect’s vision is to create a space that reflects the beauty of the desert environment while fostering a sense of community and inclusivity. The museum’s exterior will feature textures and colors reminiscent of the desert landscape, while the form of the building will evoke the angular geometry of the nearby Guardian Angel Cathedral, designed by Paul Revere Williams.
“Our design blends the beauty of the desert environment with local building principles and the passion and collaborative spirit of the Las Vegas Museum of Art to create a space where dreams come to life,” said Kéré in a statement. “It is a tremendous honor, and a highlight of my professional journey, to create a space that will bring art and joy to the residents who call Las Vegas home.”
The Las Vegas Museum of Art will benefit from a unique collaboration with LACMA, which will lend the institution artworks and expertise in hosting exhibitions and running programs. This partnership is expected to elevate the LVMA to a world-class cultural institution from its inception, enabling it to operate at the highest level. The collaboration also marks a significant step in establishing Las Vegas as a prominent cultural destination on the global stage.
Elaine Wynn, co-founder of Mirage and Wynn Resorts, and a co-chair on LACMA’s Board, has been a driving force behind the project. “For a community like Las Vegas to rightfully assume its place of prominence in the global cities of the world, it must have cultural grounding,” Wynn stated. “The creation of an art museum as an intentional act by a public/private partnership demonstrates our commitment to do this.”
The LVMA is projected to cost $150 million, with construction set to begin by February 2027. The museum is expected to open to the public in 2028. Once completed, the museum could generate an estimated $181.5 million annually, contributing significantly to the local economy and further diversifying the city’s cultural offerings.
As Las Vegas embarks on this exciting new chapter, the Las Vegas Museum of Art promises to be a beacon of creativity and cultural engagement, bringing world-class art and programming to a city known for its entertainment prowess. With Kéré’s innovative design and LACMA’s partnership, the LVMA is poised to become a landmark institution, enriching the cultural landscape of Las Vegas for generations to come.
