Forest Park - Saint Louis Art Museum

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In 1904, the museum moved from downtown St. Louis into the Palace of Fine Arts which was origianlly built for the World's Fair, also known as the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition. The building was designed by architect Cass Gilbert who took inspiration from the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, Italy.

While while there were several modest exansions over the years to increase exhibition, classroom and performance space, in 2005 the museum board selected the noted British architect Sir David Chipperfield to design a L.E.E.D. Gold certified 224,000 square foot expansion; Michel Desvigne was selected as the landscape architect. The St. Louis-based firm, H.O.K. was the architect of record to work with the construction team.

The museum sits prominently atop Art Hill to which Forest Park and the city beyond is its backdrop.