Architecture

The Asian Art Museum opened in its Civic Center location in March 2003, in San Francisco’s former Main Library building. The original building was designed by George Kelham in the Beaux-Arts style and opened as the library in 1917. Explore the preserved architectural features of the original building and learn how Italian architect Gae Aulenti applied adaptive reuse techniques to transform it into a museum.

 

Discover how the museum is looking to the future as we transform the visitor experience of our world-renowned museum with our transformation project now underway, resulting in a new pavilion and art terrace designed by architect Kulapat Yantrasast of wHY.