MOWA Architecture

Architecture + Gardens

A Cultural
Center in the
heart of West
Bend

The new Museum of Wisconsin Art—MOWA—opened in 2013 and transformed the community, with two pedestrian bridges linking the museum and its stunning gardens and sculptures to the shops and restaurants on Main Street in West Bend, Wisconsin.

The Building

Jim Shields of HGA Architects designed MOWA’s strikingly modern building. Opened in 2013 in the heart of downtown West Bend, it has become the architectural centerpiece of the community, a destination for visitors and tourists from the far corners of the state and beyond.

Dubbed “The Mothership” for its modernist design, the two-story museum follows the triangular geometry of the site, curving in a gentle arc along the west bend of the Milwaukee River. From the glass-enclosed south entrance to the structure’s wedge-shaped northern terminus, a curtain of glass runs the entire length of the first floor. The result is a luminous interior and spectacular vistas of the river and adjacent urban scene.

The 32,000-square-foot building features five permanent collection galleries, two exhibition galleries, and several flexible spaces for displaying art. A second-floor visible storage space allows a glimpse into MOWA’s extensive holdings. The two-story atrium featuring a glass-paneled grand staircase and balcony frequently hosts large-scale installations and video projections. A partially enclosed courtyard extends the atrium into a lively outdoor area for activities and events.

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The
Gardens

750 aspen trees and 1,200 flowering hydrangeas.

A four-acre campus, also designed by Jim Shields of HGA Architects, surrounds the museum’s building with 750 aspen trees and 1,200 flowering hydrangeas. The park’s bridges and meandering pathways connect MOWA to its urban environment. Spectacularly sited contemporary sculptures punctuate the gardens year-round, creating an open and welcoming outdoor art space for the community.

Explore the MOWA Gardens Donor Map

Award-Winning MOWA Architecture

2014 Honor Award for Design Excellence from the American Institute of Architects Wisconsin

2013 Top Project Award from The Daily Reporter of Wisconsin Press Release

2013 Real Estate Award for Best New Cultural Institution from the Milwaukee Business Journal

2013 Vision Award for Achievement from the Wisconsin Commercial Real Estate Women

2013 Business Beautification Award from West Bend Mutual Insurance Company

Building of the Week in the 2013 “50×50: 50 States in 50 Weeks Series” from American-Architects.com