Geometries in Dialogue

MOPOP Café and Lounge Renovation

Seattle, WA

Welcoming New Audiences

For 25 years, the Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP) has been a nexus for pop culture stories, artifacts and experiences. This renovation is designed to reveal and complement the original Frank Gehry building geometries while enhancing visitor flow and experience. Reimagined spaces extend the museum’s role as a cultural third space within the Seattle Center campus, inviting visitors and neighbors to gather and connect.

Tuning the Performance

The design creates simplified and sinuous dining spaces with a quieter palette that contrasts with the high-sensory museum experience. New wood-clad curvilinear service counters and furnishings engage with the original architecture, creating new seating areas and improving circulation.

Sustaining MOPOP for the Next Generation

The renovation supports MOPOP’s operational needs for special events and program offerings that include youth summer camps and music education programs. Reuse of existing light fixtures and magenta metal panels weaves historic fabric together with new design elements.