The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) has become a cultural landmark with its unique architecture and modern design. As the MFAH grew, more space was needed to showcase the artwork. The Kinder Building was designed and built to hold the museum’s contemporary and modern collections. This building demonstrates how steel can be used to create architectural masterpieces and beautiful spaces that are still functional and practical.
Project Overview
The three-story Kinder Building is 237,213 square feet with over 100,000 square feet being dedicated exhibition space. The unique trapezoidal-shaped building features a 215-seat theater, a cafe, conference rooms, and a concave roof to allow natural lighting. The Myrex Industries team provided 1,700 tons of steel and 38,000 man-hours in the shop to help complete the project. Working alongside the general contractor, McCarthy Builders, and design architects, Steven Holl Architects, the Kinder Building was successfully completed and opened in December 2020.
Contemporary Designs
The unconventional, trapezoidal shape of the Kinder Building along with the soft curves, sharp angles, and underground features, showcase the contemporary aesthetic the architects achieved while designing this building. The exterior also has multiple courtyards and gardens that are placed in carved-out sections of the perimeter. These design elements add to the beauty of the building. Steel is at the framework, allowing the architecture to take center stage while providing the strength and durability the building needs to last for years to come.
Modern Lighting Options
The open forum of the building allows the concave roof that was designed to look like clouds to bathe the exhibition space in natural light. The three-story building is open in the center and extends from the bottom floor to the roof. This allows the natural light to reach all three stories. Steel supplies the stability and structural support so this space can be open and unobstructed and allows for unique lighting options.
Why Choose Steel for Museums?
Because steel is flexible, but also provides strength, it is a perfect material for creating beautiful, customized spaces. In museums, steel can be used to create the structural framework, staircases, floor systems, frames for large doors and windows, and more. The versatility of steel makes design options endless for architects.
Check out other projects our team has worked on here. To learn more about steel fabrication and our services, contact us through our website here.
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