CLEVELAND — As Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame prepares to break ground this week on its much-anticipated $135 million expansion project, the museum has announced a $10 million gift for that venture.
The gift to the Rock Hall was made by philanthropists Patty and Jay Baker. In recognition of their donation, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will name the multipurpose event space that will be part of the new expansion, "Patty & Jay Baker Hall." Baker Hall will be a 6,600 square-foot space that will have the capacity of up to 1,400 people, enabling the Rock Hall to host year-round live music, community and private events, and educational programming.
“Patty and Jay Baker are extraordinary individuals, and their warmth and generosity has impacted countless lives. We are grateful and honored by their generous donation to this transformational project,” said Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, President & CEO Greg Harris. “We are a global icon and have hosted and inspired over 14 million visitors since opening 28 years ago. With the Bakers’ leadership and support, we will be prepared to welcome even more fans in the future and inspire generations to come.”
The Bakers also donated $5 million to the Rock Hall in 2018 to fund innovative improvements at the museum.
Groundbreaking for the expansion project will take place on Thursday, Oct. 5.
The project is highlighted by a 50,000 square-foot addition to the existing pyramid structure that was originally designed by architect I.M. Pei and completed in 1995. The addition was designed by Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) under the leadership of Vishaan Chakrabarti, "taking cues from the visual language of Pei’s original 1995 signature glass pyramid while preserving its distinct identity as a Cleveland landmark and activating the surrounding streetscape and lakefront."
Where the two structures converge, a large publicly accessible interior atrium welcomes visitors, drawing in passersby with circulation pathways that connect the street to an exterior lake promenade.
The new addition on the west side of the building will allow for more programming spaces, which can be used for the following:
- An additional 10,000 square feet for large-scale traveling exhibits
- A 6,000 square-foot multipurpose venue for indoor performances, community gatherings and private rentals
- Relocation of the administrative offices from the lower level
- A new entrance lobby that will improve the flow of visitors
- A state-of-the-art education center
- On-site archives for visitors to access the Rock Hall's unique collection
In addition, the expansion project also creates a "museum campus" alongside the neighboring Great Lakes Science Center, with greenspace that will allow the public to engage with the lakefront.
The project has an estimated completion date of sometime in the middle of 2026. You can see renderings in the gallery below and follow the progress of the expansion here.
PHOTOS: Renderings of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame expansion
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