The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) has announced the opening of The Crow Museum of Asian Art’s second location, as the anchor space for a 12-acre cultural district.
North-facing view of “The Sweepers” by Wang Shugang at the O’Donnell Athenaeum Phase I
Museum
The district, named the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum, has a multiphase plan that also includes the construction of a performance hall and music building, a grand plaza, and a parking structure. This first building that is now open to the public will be known as the UT Dallas Art Museums and will be home to The Crow Museum of Asian Art as well as other galleries, and a conservation studio. It is a two-story, 57,000-square-foot building designed by the Morphosis architectural firm. This secondary location for the Crow Museum more than doubles the organization’s current gallery space at its downtown Dallas Arts District location.
In a press release, Dr. Inga H. Musselman, the UT Dallas Provost, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the Cecil H. Green Distinguished Chair of Academic Leadership, commented, “This complex, like our entire campus, will be a place of learning and growth. I envision students walking through the museums during their class breaks or taking notes about pieces of art that are displayed here. The performance hall and music building will provide even more opportunities for students.”
Landing Gallery of Phase I, The O’Donnell Athenaeum
The new Crow Museum on the UT Dallas campus is the first major art museum to be built north of I-635. This location puts the museum in close proximity to Collin County and the north Dallas County suburbs. The museum’s inaugural exhibition, Ancient Echoes, Modern Voices: The Crow Collection Goes Beyond, is intended to introduce the permanent collection to new audiences. The show will span eight galleries and present hundreds of artworks, including textiles, ceramics, sculptures, paintings, and an immersive multimedia installation. The additional four galleries will showcase UT Dallas’ Latin American art collection, which includes donations from The Roger Horchow Family Collection and The Laura and Dan Boeckman Collection of Latin American Folk Art.
Installation view of the Crow Museum of Asian Art at the Phase I Museum, The O’Donnell Athenaeum
Performance Hall and Music Building, The O’Donnell Athenaeum at UT Dallas. Image credit: Morphosis
Alongside the opening of the new building, UT Dallas has broken ground on the second phase of the project, a two-story 680-seat performance hall and music building. The space will include an outdoor performance area, rehearsal rooms, practice rooms, teaching studios, a percussion studio, a recording studio, administrative offices, classrooms, a multifunctional lobby space, study spaces, and a student lounge. The building is expected to open in Fall 2026.
Performance Hall and Music Building, The O’Donnell Athenaeum at UT Dallas. Image credit: Morphosis
The museum offers free admission and will be available for field trips and other educational programs for school children. Learn more about The Crow Museum of Asian Art at UT Dallas via the museum’s website and learn more about the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum via the university’s website.
