SOM is realizing the new design for the Las Vegas Museum of Art (LVMA) as architect of record for Francis Kéré. The museum today unveiled details of its new 60,000-square-foot building—the city’s first freestanding art museum, serving millions of Las Vegas residents and visitors worldwide.

Conceptually, the building mirrors the organic form of the African baobab tree, signifying a place for community and growth. The design also draws inspiration from the area’s natural landscape—the Mojave Desert and the nearby Red Rock Mountains, featuring a mosaic facade made out of local stone. A distinctive, expansive canopy provides a sheltered entry space, while a signature grand staircase, visible through the entry level’s floor-to-ceiling windows, connects the ground-level canyon to the sanctuary-like galleries on the second floor. An outdoor sculpture plaza further extends the museum’s programming into the drought-tolerant landscape as an oasis of cool in the Las Vegas heat. 

The new Las Vegas Museum of Art will operate as an independent institution, partnering with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) to program exhibitions, educational opportunities, and other public offerings. Through this collaboration, LVMA will benefit from LACMA’s ability to lend artworks, share programs, and provide its curatorial expertise. SOM’s work as the collaborating architect and structural engineer on the new David Geffen Galleries reflects our ongoing partnership between the two institutions, shaping the region’s cultural landscape.