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Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to undergo major US$100m expansion

Architects PAU will handle the rockin’ expansion for Cleveland-based music Hall of Fame

The expansion will significantly expand the Hall of Fame’s footprint

The iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, is set to undergo a significant expansion, with NY based architectural firm PAU (Practice for Architecture and Urbanism) unveiling the US$100m (€82m, £74.2m) plans.

The ‘Heart of Glass’ Museum which currently spreads over 150,000sq ft (14,000sq m) will add a further 50,000sq ft (4,645sq m) to its footprint following the expansion.

New features will include interactive classrooms, additional on-site archive space, new indoor event spaces designed for performances and an extra 10,000sq ft (929sq m) space for large-scale traveling exhibitions.

The revamp will also create new outdoor programming spaces and will connect to the neighbouring science centre on the museum campus.

“Rock and roll - like NASA and pizza brings us together,” said Vishaan Chakrabarti, founder and creative director of PAU.

“We’re beyond ecstatic to have been selected by the Rock Hall to design the expansion of I.M Pei’s Heart of Glass which sits aglow upon Cleveland’s storied industrial waterfront. This is PAU’s stairway to heaven.”

PAU, will work with other firms on the project, including Cooper Robertson, landscape architecture and urban design practice James Corner Field and design and consulting firm L’Observatoire international. Ohio-based Robert Madison International are also involved.

Greg Harris, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame said: “Our impact has been great on visitors, students and the community over the last 25 years and it’s now time to expand our physical space.

“We join with PAU, one of the world’s top architectural design firms, as we build on this success and look forward to the next 100 years.”


Credit: PAU Architects