Explore moCa's Design

You’re invited to explore

Carpet (2016) by Franz WestMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

As a non-collecting museum, housed in a reflective structure, moCa Cleveland is constantly changing. Building architect Farshid Moussavi inserted window walls into many areas of the building to reveal our dynamic working environment as much as our gallery spaces.

moCa from start to finish

In 2012, moCa's structure was built, creating a space for reflective art and engaging perspectives. 

A Poet*hical Wager (2017) by Doug Ashford; Abbas Akhavan; Abraham Cruzvillegas; Lara Favaretto; Iman Issa; Rashid Johnson; Jumana Manna; Oscar Murillo; Tariku Shiferaw; Mario GarcÍa Torres; Emanuel TovarMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

Kulas Overlook

The Kulas Overlook at the top of the Kohl Monumental Stair features a clerestory window (a high section of the wall that contains windows above eye level) spanning the museum. It provides art lovers and the curious with a birds-eye view into the Mueller Family Gallery.

A Terrible Thing (2019) by Sondra PerryMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

Contemporary

Always new. Always fresh. moCa's exhibitions change every few months to showcase new artists creating today.

Invisible Cities (2019) by Liu WeiMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

Always New

To be present to support the needs of artists, the curious, and art lovers- a responsive design that accommodates quick changes was employed. 

Zigzags and Diagonals. (2018) by Claudia ComteMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

Gund Commons

Gund Commons features a garage door that divides the ground floor into two unique and smaller programmable environments. The galleries are column-free and allow for temporary walls; the ceilings are exposed and built with supports for hanging heavy objects.

moCa Cleveland (2012) by Dean KaufmanMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

moCa Cleveland (2012) by Dean KaufmanMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

More than mirrored steel

The building is designed to reflect: the city, the environment, and the people who enter.

moCa Cleveland (2012) by Dean KaufmanMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

Reflective Exterior

Often compared to a diamond, moCa Cleveland’s eccentric exterior form is optically radiant. Designed in-the-round, the building has no backside. Its eight canted (slanted) edges create a structure that starts as a hexagon and culminates as a square. 

FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art (2018) by Johnny ColemanMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

You're welcome inside

The building is made to discover. Overlooks, winding staircases, landings, and transparent glass are positioned to invite you to explore more. 

moCa Cleveland (2012) by Dean KaufmanMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

Floating in space

moCa's interior consists of dark blue walls that serve as a striking feature of the building and articulate its exterior form from within. Meant to bathe visitors in a field of color, the blue interior frames the visitor in space. 

Zigzags and Diagonals (2018) by Claudia ComteMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

More than monumental

moCa Cleveland (2012) by Dean KaufmanMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

Kohl Monumental Stair

The most impressive element at moCa are the artists and their work. Coming in a close second architecturally is the Kohl Monumental Staircase. An engineering feat to behold, this cascading staircase houses two stairs, one atop another.

moCa Cleveland (2012) by Dean KaufmanMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

Climbing Up

Made from over 100 tons of concrete and metal, the stair appears as one single white steel sheet. The exterior stair allows visitors to have a social experience, lingering at numerous viewing platforms while traversing up and down.

moCa Cleveland (2012) by Dean KaufmanMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

Tube of Light

The enclosed fire stair winds around like a labyrinth. Functioning as a “tube of light.” Stair A is painted yellow with yellow-gelled fixtures. Built with embedded speakers and four channels, moCa uses this alternative environment as a gallery to feature sound art.

FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art (2018) by Josh KlineMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

moCa's Galleries

The architectural design delivers maximum versatility and efficacy for its gallery spaces.

that’s where the beauty is. (2020) by Margaret KilgallenMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

The open plan of the 6,000 square-foot Mueller Family Gallery on Floor 4, combined with its 23 feet-high steel truss ceilings, provides a neutral environment that can be altered to suit the mood and feel of different exhibitions.

A Poet*hical Wager (2017) by Doug Ashford; Abbas Akhavan; Abraham Cruzvillegas; Lara Favaretto; Iman Issa; Rashid Johnson; Jumana Manna; Oscar Murillo; Tariku Shiferaw; Mario GarcÍa Torres; Emanuel TovarMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

UV-treated windows in the Mueller Gallery provide natural light and exterior views.

The Great Lakes Cycle, Alexis Rockman, 2018, From the collection of: Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland
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Becoming Imperceptible, Adam Pendleton, 2017, From the collection of: Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland
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Untitled (In My Feelings) (2018) by Aleksandra DomanovićMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

Toby Devan Lewis Gallery

The 1,500 square foot Toby Devan Lewis Gallery on Floor 2 offers artists intimate and responsive environments in which to create and present new work.

FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art, Martine Syms, 2018, From the collection of: Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland
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Temporary Spaces of Joy and Freedom, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson with Cara Mumford and Amanda Strong; Vaimoana Niumeitolu and Kyle Goen; John Edmonds; Tricia Hersey, 2020, From the collection of: Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland
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Flyfall (2022) by Dana OldfatherMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

The building as a gallery

moCa engages other non-traditional sites for art installations, including the Kohl Atrium, the Monumental Staircase, and Gund Commons, where the Museum regularly activates video art.

Who Was This Built To Protect? (2022) by Aram Han SifuentesMuseum of Contemporary Art Cleveland

Facts and Numbers:
34,000 square feet 67 ½ feet tall
8 sides
4 floors
1,354 exterior Rimex panels
176 steps
Hexagonal base, square top
44% larger than moCa Cleveland’s previous, leased space at 8501 Carnegie Avenue Cultural anchor for Uptown, a new multi-use district in the University Circle neighborhood
First permanent home for the Museum, which opened as The New Gallery in 1968

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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