Rosenthal Contemporary Arts Center Museum
The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) was founded in 1939 as one of the first institutions in the U.S. dedicated to contemporary art. In May 2003, Zaha Hadid Architects completed the Lois and Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art, the first free-standing building for the institution.
HEAPY was responsible for the design of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. The building, located in downtown Cincinnati, includes four floors with several mezzanines and an atrium. The facility provides exhibit galleries, performance spaces, workshops, offices, and public spaces.
Designed as an interactive public space rather than a conventional structure, the building features Hadid’s signature “Urban Carpet” concept, which seamlessly integrates the surrounding pedestrian movement. Located at the corner of Sixth and Walnut Streets, the ground plane curves upward into the building, forming the back wall and guiding visitors to a suspended mezzanine ramp. This dynamic space functions as both a lobby and an artificial landscaped park.
The New York Times called the Contemporary Arts Center “the most important American building to be completed since the end of the Cold War.” – June 2003
In 2018, HEAPY assisted in the concept design for the renovation of the 9,000 SF 6th floor, known as the UnMuseum, to expand offerings to include a Learning Center. The project created new spaces for new types of programming and the infrastructure to support it. The project scope included:
- Enclosed classroom space with storage
- Open classroom space with storage and clean-up sinks
- Enclosed equipment area for “Maker Space’
- Enclosed computer classroom
- Gallery space for rotating exhibits
- Staff room for docents with kitchenette
- Added nursing and family room
- Reconfigured toilet rooms for gender-neutral access and plumbing upgrades as possible
- Visitor lockers for personal belongings
