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The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art — a joyous union of architecture and art

The roof that defines the gallery at Crystal Bridges

A great big space for your great big event!

Connecting to the outdoors and naturally daylighting the indoors

The unique angles and curves that adjoin the walls and roof

The peaceful setting of Crystal Bridges is enhanced by the reflections of the surrounding ponds

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Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Location:

Style: Business Meetings, Social Gatherings

A refreshing new interpretation of the "great hall" for your special event, surrounded by natural beauty and centuries of American art.

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American  Art is dedicated solely to American Art, showcasing works from the 17^th century to the modern day. The Museum is named for the natural spring that fills the surrounding ponds reflecting the beauty of this new building.

The museum was founded by Alice Walton of the “Walmart” family whose contributions made the museum possible. The building was designed by award-winning architect Moshe Safdie, and it is a work of art in its own right. It is a uniquely woven sequence of irregularly-shaped buildings with ponds filling the open spaces. These interconnecting building sections feature dramatic outward leaning walls on one or two sides, “reaching out” towards the landscape.

The organic nature of the building is further accentuated by the dramatic bowed roofs that enclose the museum’s galleries, the Museum Cafe, and featured public spaces. These roofs are either concave or convex, depending on the spaces enclosed. Floor-to-ceiling glass window walls throughout provide substantial natural daylight and connection to the outdoors. 

Both the Museum Cafe and Great Hall are large column-free spaces that reveal their dramatic bowed roof framing. The Great Hall, the museum’s premier event space, projects out over the south pond and provides a peaceful, nurturing setting by day or night for both meetings and private celebrations.

Images courtesy of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art