The Museum was originally founded in 1934 and moved from the Allentown Rose Garden to its current building nearly 70 years ago as the collection and programs expanded. Despite two major renovations, the current structure—originally built as a church in 1902—can no longer support the needs of a modern museum.

Aging infrastructure, outdated climate control systems, and spatial inefficiencies limit the Museum’s ability to serve visitors, properly safeguard its collection of more than 20,000 works of art, and accommodate growing audiences for generations to come.

The Museum approaches this project from a position of strength and opportunity. Attendance and programming continue to grow, and the Lehigh Valley is among the nation’s fastest-growing regional economies. At the same time, Allentown’s cultural corridor is expanding and attracting new investment.

Extensive feasibility studies conducted by the Museum’s Board of Trustees confirmed that the current facility is not a viable long-term solution.

Mechanical, electrical, environmental, and security systems would require major upgrades to meet modern museum standards. In addition, low ceiling heights and the building’s structural layout limit flexibility for exhibitions, programming, special events, and visitor services.

Collections storage is also at capacity, and the continual cost of upgrading and maintaining the aging HVAC system—required to sustain appropriate climate conditions in a space not originally designed for art storage—is prohibitive.

Importantly, maintaining the current building would still require more than $12 million in capital maintenance over the next decade—without resolving the building’s fundamental limitations. Commissioned studies also showed that partial or full demolition would approach the cost of new construction while failing to resolve site constraints, accessibility challenges, and disruptions to operations.

For these reasons, the Museum is building a purpose-built facility designed from the ground up to support its mission and ensure long-term sustainability.

The decision to move was made unanimously by the Allentown Art Museum’s Board of Trustees. The Board includes a diverse group of community leaders, business professionals, educators, and arts experts who are committed to ensuring the Museum’s long-term success and sustainability.

The move also has strong support from city, county, and state leadership and community stakeholders.

Extensive feasibility studies conducted by the Museum’s Board of Trustees confirmed that the current facility is not a viable long-term solution.

Mechanical, electrical, environmental, and security systems would require major upgrades to meet modern museum standards. In addition, low ceiling heights and the building’s structural layout limit flexibility for exhibitions, programming, special events, and visitor services.

Collections storage is also at capacity, and the continual cost of upgrading and maintaining the aging HVAC system—required to sustain appropriate climate conditions in a space not originally designed for art storage—is prohibitive.

Importantly, maintaining the current building would still require more than $12 million in capital maintenance over the next decade—without resolving the building’s fundamental limitations. Commissioned studies also showed that partial or full demolition would approach the cost of new construction while failing to resolve site constraints, accessibility challenges, and disruptions to operations.

For these reasons, the Museum is building a purpose-built facility designed from the ground up to support its mission and ensure long-term sustainability.

The Museum plans to sell the current property and will work with city leaders and community partners to identify potential buyers and appropriate future uses for the building.

The Museum will remain open and operating at the current location until the new building is ready.

The new facility is expected to be approximately 55,000 square feet, similar in size to the current museum but designed much more efficiently.

The purpose-built design will allow for:

• More usable gallery space
• Improved collections storage
• Better exhibition preparation areas
• Expanded education and community spaces
• Improved visitor circulation

Yes. The new building will include dedicated educational, event, and community gathering spaces designed to support public programs, partnerships, and civic engagement.

Yes. Both of these signature installations will move to the new Museum and will be featured in prominent, purpose-designed spaces that enhance their visibility and interpretation.

The Museum’s downtown location provides access to existing public parking infrastructure. The current site plans include a small lot on the Court Street side of the property for deliveries, staff, and limited accessible parking.

Visitors will primarily use nearby public parking options, including:

• Linden Street Parking Deck
• Maple Street Garage

Yes. Free admission is a cornerstone of the Allentown Art Museum’s mission.

Providing free access removes financial barriers, encourages repeat visits, strengthens educational equity, and reinforces the Museum’s role as a public resource for the entire community.

Relocating to a busier part of downtown will make it easier for more people to take advantage of the Museum’s free admission and programming.

The new facility is expected to support growth in staffing, programming, and operations over time. The new Museum expansion will likely create 4-6 new full-time equivalent (FTE) positions to support expanded operations. In addition to permanent Museum positions, the project will also generate significant employment opportunities during construction.

The new Allentown Art Museum will be more than a building—it will redefine the Museum’s civic role. Through thoughtful design, expanded programming, and its new central location, the Museum will become a more accessible and active cultural hub for residents and visitors alike.

Key impacts include:

Economic Impact

• Approximately $58 million in economic output during the two-year construction phase
• Approximately $5.5 million in annual economic activity once operational

Job Creation

• 300–350 direct construction jobs
• 200–250 indirect jobs

Expanded Access and Increased Visitorship

• Located within walking distance of nearly 44,000 residents within a one-mile radius
• 73% of those residents live in low-to-moderate-income households
• Attendance is projected to grow significantly due to the new, high-traffic location

Our capital campaign for the new Museum is now underway. Funding will come from a combination of sources, including:

• Federal, state, and local funding
• Private philanthropic support
• Proceeds from the sale of the current Museum property

Public funding is expected to cover approximately half of the total project cost, with private contributions making up the remainder.

The Allentown Art Museum has served the community for more than 90 years and is committed to a careful, fiscally responsible approach. The Museum will not begin construction until the necessary public and private funding is secured.

The new facility is not designed to dramatically expand the institution’s size, but rather to create a building that:

• Meets the needs of the community
• Supports the Museum’s mission
• Is financially sustainable to build and operate for generations to come