The fine art museum has more than 42,000 items in its collection and is particularly known for its displays of Asian art, European and American paintings, photography, modern sculpture, and for its Native American and Egyptian galleries.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art director and chief executive Julián Zugazagoitia said: ‘This competition will be a fascinating proposition for architects who love art and culture.
‘At the second stage of the competition, we will be looking for designs that inspire community engagement and attract new audiences through exemplary design that will best position the Nelson-Atkins to serve guests for generations to come.’
MRC director Malcolm Reading said: ‘The museum cares for a superlative collection, which is growing dynamically as indeed Kansas City is. Within a generation, projected visitors are likely to reach a million a year so the museum needs to prepare.’
The competition is expected to launch in early autumn and run for six months.
MRC’s appointment comes almost a year after Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos of Madrid won an earlier competition organised by the London-based contest organiser to overhaul the Dallas Museum of Art.
