Minnesota’s Walker Art Center is one of the premier contemporary art museums in the country, and one renowned for its presentation of new performance work. The Walker expansion doubles the size of its existing building. The design intent was to “bring together artistic, educational, and social experiences” and the result is new galleries and education areas, and a dramatic, 385-seat performance space.

This space, named the William and Nadine McGuire Theater, has a stage that enables performers to present ambitious and technically complex works in an intimate setting. Walker’s design goal was to expand the range and definition of theater, dance, opera, and music, while offering audiences an intimate connection to how new work is created. Ringed by a new-media laboratory and galleries, the studio helps to bring about the convergence of art forms in a pioneering, one-of-a-kind theatrical space.

The theatre also serves as a ‘research and development’ space for new pieces, helps the Walker expand its ability to commission new work, and supports the development of experimental performances and collaborations among film/video, new media, visual and performing artists.