The Museum Worker: Museum Architecture, From Threshold Fear to Open Invitation

In this episode of The Museum Worker, hosts and CAA Museum Committee members Miriam Paeslack and Samatha Sigmon delve into the literal ins and outs of museum architecture today with experts in the field. This discussion features various stakeholders in the field: Erin Coe, a museum professional who has spearheaded major building projects; Lauren McQuistion, an educator and theorist specializing in museum architecture; and architects Paul Schulhof and Azadeh Rashidi, who design cultural spaces in both urban and rural environments. Working from the outside into the physical museum space, each speaker draws on their own experiences and case studies to underscore the imperative of incorporating the input of diverse voices along the design process. Museums today, all participants agree, must navigate between being beacons of unique design and crafting a meaningful environment that facilitates the institution’s role as a community anchor.