Penn State University is constructing a new home for its Palmer Museum of the Art

Penn State University in State College, Pa., has broken ground on a new home for the Palmer Museum of the Art. 

The 71,000-square-foot Palmer Museum of the Art at the Arboretum will have two wings clad in local stone. The larger wing on the west side is for the galleries and museum support spaces, and the east wing will have administrative and educational facilities, reports Statecollege.com.

The wings have an open space between them and offer a view directly into the Arboretum. They are connected on the second level by an enclosed walkway.

The Palmer Museum has a permanent collection of more than 10,000 works of art, including a renowned collection of American art. The existing museum facility can display only 3% to 4% of the collection at any one time; the new museum will boost that percentage to between 7% and 8%.

In addition to a need for more space, Penn State officials have said the existing museum’s aging systems pose a concern for preserving works of art, and its location on central campus makes it less accessible for guests because of a lack of parking.

To date, more than $20 million in philanthropy has been raised toward the museum’s $85 million budget.

The existing Palmer Museum of Art location will remain open until the new facility is completed. At that point, the building will be used for unannounced university purposes.

The new facility is expected to open in fall 2023.

The architect is Allied Works.