COLUMBUS, OH.- The Columbus Museum of Art announces the opening of the new Margaret M. Walter wing. The Community Grand Opening, presented by PNC Arts Alive, will take place on Sunday, October 25 at 10:00 AM. The event marks the completion of the third and final phase of the Museum’s Art Matters campaign. The campaign helps ensure that CMA achieves three goals: sustainability, competitiveness, and enhanced public value.

The $37.6 million project encompasses major renovations to the Ross Wing and lobby area the Museum added in 1974 and the construction of a new wing. These changes will result in a unique meeting and special event complex, as well as new gallery spaces to showcase the Museum’s permanent collection and expanded space for high-profile traveling exhibitions.

Columbus-based architecture firm DesignGroup, led by award-winning architect Michael Bongiorno, a graduate of the prestigious Pratt Institute School of Architecture, has spearheaded the project.

Corna Kokosing, a partner on the previous two phases of CMA’s construction, has been the general contractor for the project. Corna has a history of being a loyal supporter of the arts and has long been a part of the Museum family and the Columbus community. Local landscape architecture firm, MKSK, led by Karen McCoy, Darren Meyer, and Chris Kimbrel provided urban garden design and helped develop the master plan for the Museum grounds.

The expansion and renovation have given CMA:

New Margaret M. Walter Wing 50,000 sq. ft.
Total new gallery space 21,936 sq. ft.

• Upper Level Permanent Gallery Space
• Video Gallery
• Chin Gallery (will house Mel Chin’s Spirit)
• Lower Level Special Exhibition Space
• Museum Store

Special Events Capacity After Renovation and Expansion

• Atrium Entrance
Cocktails for 182

• Schokko Art Café
Dinner for 80, cocktails for 100

• Special Event Pavilion
Dinner for 300, cocktails for 500, theater seating for 500

• Derby Court
Dinner for 200, cocktails for 300

• West Garden

• Two Catering Kitchens

• Patricia M. Jurgensen Sculpture Garden (Patty’s Garden)

Accessible from new Special Event Pavilion via terrace and stairs. Also accessible from Schokko Art Café, which opens onto the garden.

Meeting Rooms

• Forum
Seated for 75, theater style for 85, cocktail style for 100

• AEP Foundation Ready Room
Seated for 60, theater style for 65, cocktails style for 75

• Innovation Lab
Seated for 30, theater style for 45

Other Facilities

• Cardinal Health Auditorium
Seats 288