Kimball Art Center has selected Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron to design its planned new building in Kimball Junction, near Summit County's PEAK Center.
The nonprofit's board announced the selection Nov. 5 as the organization celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Herzog & de Meuron, based in Basel, Switzerland, is known for major cultural projects including London's Tate Modern and the Pérez Art Museum Miami.
The selection moves the Kimball Art Center closer to developing a permanent home with expanded space for exhibitions, art education and community activities.
The center has outlined its relocation plans on its official future-building project page.
International firm chosen after extensive search
The Kimball Art Center began evaluating architects earlier this year, developing a building mission focused on exhibitions, education, accessibility and community connection.
According to the center's Nov. 5 announcement, its board considered more than 50 national and international architecture firms before narrowing the field.
The process included visits to other arts institutions, review of project proposals and interviews with finalists.
Three firms advanced to the final stage: Snøhetta, Herzog & de Meuron and Michael Maltzan Architecture.
All three participated in a public architectural discussion Sept. 16 at Park City High School.
The event explored how new museum buildings can bring together exhibition spaces, classrooms and opportunities for public participation.
Executive Director Aldy Milliken said the selected firm understood the center's vision for connecting art exhibitions with hands-on education.
He described the future building as a place intended to serve the wider Summit County community, rather than function solely as an exhibition venue.
New arts center planned near PEAK Center
The project will place the Kimball Art Center in Kimball Junction, next to the PEAK Center, the former Skullcandy headquarters acquired by Summit County in 2025.
The county is converting that building into a public services hub that includes government offices, library services and public meeting space.
The arts center's proposed location is part of a broader redevelopment effort in Kimball Junction.
The Kimball Art Center says the site offers opportunities to expand programming while keeping the organization connected to the Park City community.
Its current location at 1251 Kearns Blvd. has served as a temporary home since 2021.
The new facility is intended to provide additional space for exhibitions, classrooms and community gatherings.
Design work begins this winter
A Herzog & de Meuron team based in Austin, Texas, will work with the center's administration and community stakeholders during the design process.
According to the Nov. 5 announcement, predesign work is expected to begin this winter, followed by schematic design in 2027.
The center also plans to select a local architect, landscape architect and construction manager in the coming months.
Simon Demeuse, a partner at Herzog & de Meuron, said the firm's team was struck by the Kimball Junction site's natural light, expansive views and potential for a building connected to its surroundings.
The center has not announced a final architectural design or construction budget.
Fifty years of arts programming
The Kimball Art Center was founded in 1976 after philanthropist Bill Kimball purchased the former Eley Garage at Heber Avenue and Main Street in Park City.
The organization has since expanded its educational and exhibition programs and operates the annual Park City Kimball Arts Festival.
Its move to Kimball Junction would mark another major transition in the nonprofit's history.
Board Chair Adam Himoff said the selection process helped clarify the center's long-term goals for the new facility.
With an architect selected, the next phase will focus on developing the building's design and determining how it can support the organization's programs and the surrounding community.
