On Thursday, the San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously approved the environmental impact report on the planned expansion at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
The expansion, which would double the size of the museum, was applauded at the meeting as the plans were finally approved, pushing the project to the brink of reality.
"Normally when large projects come in front of the commission, they are controversial," said Commissioner Kathrin Moore to SFGate. "This is not."
The proposed plan would add an additional wing with seven levels of gallery space, as well as an expanded restaurant, office space and a sky-high 18-foot pedestrian walkway connecting the two buildings. And with famed Norwegian firm Snohetta on board, you can bet it will be beautiful.
"What Snohetta practices could be called the architecture of engagement, a building conceived as a social and environmental act instead of a static, formal object," wrote Wall Street Journal critic Ada Louise Huxtable about the firm. And judging by the pictures on the website, we couldn't agree more.
According to Curbed SF, the only opponent to the project at the meeting was the W Hotel, citing fears that the addition could limit access to the hotel. But with the possibility of a major cultural boon for the city in site, the Commission sided with the museum.
Check out images of the proposed expansion, courtesy of Snohetta, below:
