Museum Expansion & Redesign
Construction is underway, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s historic 50,000 square feet expansion is starting to take shape.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is undertaking a massive transformation of the Museum’s main exhibit hall to share the stories, celebrate the artists, and showcase the artifacts and history of the musicians whose music inspires us all. This Main Exhibit Hall renovation and redesign is the last phase of a multi-faceted capital project and will immediately follow the completion of the Museum expansion project. This renovation and redesign will reimagine how we tell the living, breathing history of rock & roll.
By channeling the energy of rock & roll while still paying homage to the existing I.M. Pei building, this expansion & redesign will:
- Reimagine and redesign the 20,000 sq. ft Main Exhibit Hall.
- Increase exhibition space by 40% by creating a new changing exhibits gallery.
- Create an indoor multi-purpose space for live performances and events.
- Increase education space to engage students.
- Increase public access to the Museum and Lake Erie.
- Drive economic impact and grow visitation.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is seeking a qualified firm or a group of firms to develop a 20,000 square feet Main Exhibit Hall design that combines sound, images, graphics, and physical materials to create an unmatched visitor experience that fits the power, excitement, and magnitude of rock & roll. Key elements should include:
- Maximize the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s unique assets (Induction footage, artist interviews, artifacts, photographs, and archival materials, etc.).
- Offer multiple touch points and experiences (audio, video, experiential, etc.).
- Connect the past to the present and future.
- Build in flexibility for responsive changes.
The Main Exhibit Hall totals approximately 20,000 square feet (A). The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame intends to reimagine the Main Exhibit Hall by replacing the current chronological journey through the history of rock & roll with new galleries.
Immediately adjacent to the Main Exhibit Hall is an approximately 6,700 square foot gallery that will be constructed to house changing exhibits (B). While there will be direct access from the reimagined Main Exhibit Hall to the adjacent changing exhibits gallery requiring coordination between the selected Designer and the broader project team, the adjacent changing exhibit gallery itself is not a part of this scope of work.
A roughly 800 square foot hallway will connect the new construction portion of the overall project to the reimagined Main Exhibit Hall (Orange Arrow). This portion of the scope will serve as a gateway to the story told in the reimagined Main Exhibit Hall.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame welcomes creative ways that mix digital and immersive experiences with artifacts.
This a free, un-ticketed space allows the public to enjoy and connect through the power of music. The main public entryway into the museum, it includes the community stairs, a reception area and bar, and spectacular views of Lake Erie. This programmable gathering place will greet all fans, students and artists who visit – over 600,000 each year!
This versatile space will reach thousands through concerts, community events, and educational programming each year. A major component of the new building, this adaptable space fulfills our need for a large community commons to operate in tandem with the museum, allowing full operation for members and fans during large events.
The first space of its kind in the museum’s history, this space is uniquely designed and built for the tens of thousands of K-12 students who visit each year. Our award-winning museum educators will deliver impactful programs in this space engaging every student group during their visit. Multipurpose in nature, the Student Center will cater to the needs of our community partners, will expand our already robust school field trip opportunities, allow additional public programs for audiences of all ages, and will be accessible to community groups for collaborative partnerships, programs, and events.
Designed by James Corner Field Operations, the Taylor Family Community Park will activate our beautiful lakefront and will increase community access. A critical step towards Cleveland’s vision for an active, revitalized downtown neighborhood, it will provide to further enrich the area for residents and visitors year-round. We are grateful for the generous support of the Taylor Family, the George Gund Foundation and the State of Ohio, which allows this park to provide better connections to our Great Lakes and Northcoast Harbor. These spaces will also host some of our large free community events, like MLK Day, Pride Rocks, Fam Jam, Hispanic Heritage Celebration, and so much more!
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is dedicated to making a difference. We are an inclusive & welcoming museum that encourages creativity, embraces innovation, and creates a culture of belonging. As a community leader, we recognize the impact we have on all aspects of our society, from economic to social to environmental. Our museum expansion continues this work, allowing us to better serve our community and fans, celebrate artists, and keep the spirit of rock & roll alive.
We are committed to working with and advocating for communities, organizations and businesses to create a vibrant economic environment. We are dedicated to using strategies that benefit economic growth and shape the future of Northeast Ohio. A cornerstone of our expansion is our Inclusion & Belonging work, which matches our impact with our intent.
We aim to make a greater impact than simply meeting company and workforce goals. Our mission is to raise up new firms as well as individuals entering the construction-related workforce for the first time. Working with our partners, A.M. Higley, the GCP and The AKA Team, as well as all possible consultants, suppliers, and subcontractors, we are determined to be a catalyst for opportunity in the entire NEO community.
People. Planet. Prosperity. They’re all connected. We know that the long-term prosperity of the Museum and its expansion is directly linked to the prosperity of our community and the health of the planet. Some of our Expansion sustainability highlights include:
- In addition to moving the Rock Hall vehicle fleet to all electric, we’re installing EV charging stations and bicycle facilities.
- We’re installing a green roof to help reduce urban heat island effects, deflecting sun radiation and releasing moisture into the atmosphere.
- We’re using the power of Lake Erie through a state-of-the-art geothermal system to heat and cool the building, taking the pressure off traditional fossil fuel systems.
- We’re using bird-safe glass that allows them to see and avoid the building, further protecting the Great Lakes ecosystem.
Higley Construction
The AKA Team
Greater Cleveland Partnership
Project Management Consultants, LLC
City of Cleveland
Cuyahoga County
State of Ohio
PAU Studio
Robert Madison International
DLR Group
James Corner Field Operations
Osborn Engineering
Thompson Hine LLC