About the project
View from Woolloomooloo image of the Sydney Modern Project as produced by Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA (c) Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2021
The Art Gallery of New South Wales’ transformation – the Sydney Modern Project – opened to the public on 3 December 2022. It has created a new art museum experience across two buildings connected by a public art garden. The project involved construction of a new building, revitalisation of our existing building, and significant landscape works.
The new building, designed by SANAA, has almost doubled current exhibition space with seamless connections between indoor and outdoor spaces, delivering rich and diverse experiences for all visitors.
The revitalisation of our existing building, designed by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects, has restored original architectural features of the building, provided more space for art and scholarship, and enhanced the visitor experience and sustainable operations.
The project has created an exceptional experience of art, architecture and landscape in one of the world’s most beautiful urban locations. Australian landscape architects McGregor Coxall worked together with renowned landscape architect, Kathryn Gustafson, and Seattle firm Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, to design feature landscape elements as well as an overall campus landscape strategy that draws upon endemic ecological communities that give Sydney Harbour its rich character.
The $344 million project is the largest government and philanthropic arts partnership of its kind to be achieved to date in the arts in Australia. Together with the NSW Government’s $244 million in funding, the Art Gallery has attracted unprecedented philanthropic support, exceeding its fundraising target of $100 million.
Infrastructure NSW managed the delivery of the project on behalf of the NSW Government and Art Gallery. Richard Crookes Constructions was the contractor for the new building. The new building was designed by SANAA with Architectus as executive architect.
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Project benefits
A new building providing close to double the current building’s exhibition space to enable the Art Gallery to show more of the State’s outstanding art collection and attract major national and international exhibitions to Sydney
Revitalisation of the existing building to restore original architectural features, provide more space for art and scholarship, and enhance the visitor experience and sustainable operations
A new prominent destination showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture
Increased visitation to at least 2 million per year, including capacity to significantly increase student and teacher visits
Dedicated spaces and facilities for learning and participation, with innovative and interactive programs
The first public art museum in the nation to achieve the highest environmental standard for design with a 6-star Green Star design rating from the Green Building Council of Australia
Architectural and cultural landmark where people, art and ideas come together in the heart of Sydney’s eastern cultural precinct
A new building that maximises and enhances open space across the site with significant landscape works, public art garden, courtyards, green roofs, and three landscaped accessible roof terraces
Improved 24/7 public access, landscaping and civic amenity for all visitors and an improved universal pathway with two new lifts to better connect Woolloomooloo with the CBD
Wider economic benefit to the NSW economy of more than $1 billion over the next 25 years, including the creation of 242 full-time jobs
Enhanced digital capabilities to expand engagement with schools, communities, artists and visitors
Exciting new opportunities for the Art Gallery’s staff, volunteers and membership bodies
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Key milestones
The key project milestones to date have been:
2011: Sydney Modern Masterplan Framework, jointly prepared by the Gallery and Johnson Pilton Walker, was completed
March 2013: Launch of the Sydney Modern strategic vision and master plan to transform the Gallery into an art museum of the 21st century
June 2013: NSW Government committed $10.8 million to advance plans for the Gallery expansion
September 2014: Jury announced for Sydney Modern Project competition
October 2014: Twelve shortlisted architects announced for Stage 1 submission
January 2015: Five shortlisted architects announced for Stage 2 submission
May 2015: SANAA announced as preferred architect
June 2015: NSW Government committed $4 million to progress the design and planning of the Sydney Modern Project
June 2017: NSW Government committed $244 million to build the Sydney Modern Project
November 2017: State Significant Development Application lodged with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and start of public exhibition
December 2017: Public exhibition of State Significant Development Application concludes
April 2018: Response to Submissions Report lodged with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment following review and consideration of all submissions received.
October 2018: Infrastructure NSW, on behalf of the NSW Government and the Gallery, issued a formal Request for Tender as part of the competitive tender process to shortlisted construction companies
November 2018: Approval of State Significant Development Application for the project by the NSW Minister for Planning. More information
September 2019: The NSW Government announced Richard Crookes Constructions as the selected contractor for the Sydney Modern Project
November 2019: Construction commences on the new building
October 2020: Gallery announces program of works for revitalisation of the existing building
August 2021: Landscape works commence at the front of the existing building by Richard Crookes Constructions
3 December 2022: Construction is completed by Richard Crookes Constructions. Program of revitalisation works in the existing building is completed. The expanded and transformed Art Gallery opens to the public.
