Motown Museum today (Sept. 16, 2024) provided an update on its highly anticipated expansion project, revealing for the first time its planned opening date to welcome visitors during the summer 2026. The opening date announcement also served as a first glimpse into the new structure’s lobby and café—a central part of the nearly 40,000-square-foot space that will house immersive and interactive exhibits, the Ford Motor Company Theater, an expanded retail experience and more, all to be built behind the iconic Hitsville U.S.A.
Motown Lobby
Motown Lobby Bridge
Motown Cafe
Motown Cafe transformed for evening activities
Additionally, a status update on the expansion campaign’s fundraising progress was shared by Motown Museum Chairwoman and CEO Robin Terry as construction on the third and final phase of the expansion begins this month.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for this project, with the past few months being full of important design details being finalized, leading us to this special moment allowing us to now share with our Detroit community and fans and visitors from around the world when they can step inside this one-of-a-kind experiential space,” Terry said. “Our expansion fundraising has now reached $70 million, nearing our final goal of $75 million. With our final campaign milestone within reach, our talented team of architects and construction planners are now fully executing and bringing our bold vision to life.”
Key stakeholders in the project, including Zena Howard, Principal and Global Cultural & Civic Practice Chair of Perkins & Will, the museum’s architecture firm of record, and Larry Brinker Jr., CEO of Brinker, also provided remarks.
Howard shared her personal experiences of being a part of the expansion project and the emotional experience of helping to shape the way the Motown legacy will be celebrated and shared on a larger scale. She also acknowledged national industry challenges with cost escalations due to materials, and the strength of the Motown Museum leadership team and their steadfast commitment to the expansion completion.
Brinker outlined the project’s construction timeline, anticipated to be 18-20 months long, with the third and final phase coming out of the ground this fall. He also shared that the construction will be followed by several months of interior design work, with the planned expansion opening during the summer of 2026.
Announced in late 2016, the Motown Museum expansion will grow the museum to a nearly 50,000-square-foot world-class entertainment and education tourist destination featuring dynamic, interactive exhibits, a performance theater, recording studios, an expanded retail experience and meeting spaces designed by renowned architects and exhibit designers. When completed, the new museum campus will have a transformative impact on the surrounding Detroit neighborhoods, providing employment, sustainability and community pride by serving as an important catalyst for new investment and tourism in the historic area.
Detroit Free Press