Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University

I was recently in Ithaca, NY and had the chance to visit the Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell. I was surprised by the bold form of the building and read that it was designed by Architect I.M. Pei. The building is entirely built of board-formed cast-in-place concrete and has a blocky sculptural form and a spacious second floor plaza with a great view of lake Cayuga in the distance. The building reminded me, as great buildings do, of the power of architecture to create amazing spaces and memorable experiences. Every view and space is well considered. The galleries are intimate and spaced for the mostly smaller-scale art, while the exterior plaza and lobby are grand and contemplative in nature.

Exterior view at entry.

Lobby.

Concrete stair and wall with 50 years of patina.

2nd level plaza.

View of Lake Cayuga from the upper gallery level.

Gallery

Ithaca View.

Stair view.