SYDNEY.- Following the announcement last year that the Museum of Contemporary Art had received planning approval for its $50 million redevelopment, the Museum unveiled this new series of artist’s impressions of the new building.

As the images illustrate, plans for the new museum are taking shape at a rapid rate under the guidance of Sydney architect Sam Marshall, and the Government Architect’s office. These images showcase how the redevelopment will create a contemporary northern wing with education as a continuing central focus of the revamped Museum. The wing will house a National Centre for Creative Learning with workshop spaces for schools and after-school programs.

There will be new facilities for the MCA’s renowned Bella program for young people with specific needs, as well as a digital classroom, multi media room, artists research library, resource room and lecture theatre/new media events space, which will allow the delivery of a greater range of educational programs to more Australians living in remote and regional areas.

It will also result in a complete refurbishment of the MCA’s existing galleries to transform the Museum into a truly international institution serving audiences of the future.

The ambitious re-development has arisen in response to the demands of increasing visitor attendance, which has further exacerbated the poor accessibility of the building. The MCA now has over half a million people visiting each year and no doubt this figure will only grow in the years ahead.

The Museum has raised $27million and requires the remaining $23million for the project, to begin construction and transform the MCA into a global hub of contemporary art and ideas.