California based wHYArchitecture has been selected to expand and revitalize the Speed Museum, Kentucky’s oldest and largest art museum. The plan calls for additional gallery, exhibition, educational, and social space to be added to the current museum building, a Greek revival structure built in 1927, along with outdoor enhancements for the display of art and entertaining. The project will be led by Kulapat Yantrasast and supported by partners Yo Hakomori and Richard Stoner.

wHY was selected from a short list of eight firms including: Bernard Tschumi Architects of New York and Paris; Bjarke Ingels Group of Copenhagen; Gluckman Mayner Architects of New York; Henning Larsen Architects of Copenhagesn; SANAA of Tokyo; Snohetta AS of New York and Oslo; and Studio Gang Architects of Chicago and Brooklyn.

In making its selection, Charles L. Venable, Director of The Speed Museum said, “In our initial meeting, Kulapat had an immediate understanding of how to clarify our complicated, existing campus, punctuated by thoughtful expansion. The synergy between wHY, the staff, and our trustees was immediate and exciting”.

Construction of the project is anticipated to begin in 2010 with a reopening 2012.

Founded in 2003, wHY came into public view with its design for the Grand Rapids Art Museum – the first art museum in the world to receive a LEED Gold rating.