EABODY ESSEX MUSEUM EXPANSION
SALEM MA
CULTURAL
2019
WITH ENNEAD ARCHITECTS
While at Ennead Architects, Eliza was the project designer for an expansion and renovation of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem originated in 1799 as the East India Marine Society and is now the nation’s oldest continuously operating museum. Since the completion of the original East India Marine Hall in 1825, numerous additions have been added to house the growing collection. The final addition provides additional gallery space while stitching together the museum’s sequence of past, present and future exhibits.
The east atrium acts as an interior “street” as the skylight highlights the newly restored west facade of the historic East India Marine Hall. We spent great effort refining the connection between the two buildings so as to preserve the historic integrity of the original building. In addition to acting as a circulation node for the surrounding galleries, the atrium is also used as a dedicated entrance for school groups, and an event space during off hours. It also bridges together the varying floor levels of the older additions to create one seamless museum experience.
The stone that wraps the new galleries on both the interior and exterior is a local granite called Chelmsford and is the same stone that was used on the front facade of the original 1825 East India Marine Hall.
The addition connects the streetscape activating a formally under-utilized public plaza. The project also includes a new garden designed by Nelson Byrd Woltz that acts as a quiet respite for museum visitors.