The Allentown Art Museum (AAM) is moving uptown.

AAM officials have announced plans to close its Fifth and Court streets, Allentown, location where it has been for some 65 years to build a new facility about five blocks west at 10th and Hamilton streets, Allentown.

The AAM will be the new kid on the block, joining several new, nearby arts, cultural and residential venues in what is billed as Allentown’s “Downtown West.”

he new AAM would be less than one block from Archer Music Hall, 939 Hamilton St., Allentown, a concert venue which opened in March; Moxy Allentown Downtown, 949 Hamilton St., Allentown, a hotel which opened in January; Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion, 815 W. Hamilton St., Allentown, which opened in May 2024, and PPL Tower, Ninth and Hamilton streets, the renovation of which is to include some 100 apartments in its 24 stories, tallest building in the Lehigh Valley.

The new AAM will be built on the site of the Allentown Police Department substation. Plans are to build a new police department adjacent to Allentown City Hall in the vicinity of Fourth and Hamilton streets, Allentown.

The AAM purchased its new site from the Allentown Parking Authority, which had purchased the substation and is combining it and an adjacent parcel it owns in the sale to AAM.

The parking authority approved sale of the tract to AAM at its April 23 meeting, according to an April 23 press release from AAM.

The press release did not state the purchase price. AAM will pay $1.4 million for the site, according to the press release.

Museum history

The Allentown Art Museum was founded in 1934 by Walter Emerson Baum, one of the New Hope School or Pennsylvania Impressionism painters, and founder of The Baum School of Art, Fifth and Linden streets, which has announced its own expansion plans.

The AAM was originally in the former Hunsicker School, Allentown, then in a house at the Malcolm Gross Rose Garden, Allentown, and in 1959, it took over a former First Presbyterian Church, with an architect Edgar A. Tafel designed expansion in 1975, and the architects Venturi Scott Brown expansion in 2010.

AAM and other officials cited limitations of the museum at 31 N. Fifth St., Allentown.

Building “outgrown”

“Our visitation, programming and collection are each thriving, and we have outgrown our current building’s ability to withstand our logistical and spatial needs,” Dr. Max Weintraub, President and CEO of the Allentown Art Museum, stated in the April 23 press release.

In an April 23 email to AAM members, Weintraub stated, “After careful consideration and extensive planning, we’ve concluded that a purpose-built facility is the most cost-effective and mission-aligned solution to meet our growing needs.

“While our current location, originally a church with sections dating back to the early 20th century, has served us well since the 1950s, its limitations in space, accessibility and ability to meet modern museum standards now hinder our ability to fully support our thriving visitation, programming and collections for decades to come,” stated Weintraub in the email to AAM members.

“Limited space and aging infrastructure have held back their ability to grow,” State Sen. Nick Miller (D-14th) stated of AAM in the press release.

“AAM has spent several years studying this project, including exploring a third renovation of its current site, which was originally constructed as a church. Ultimately, feasibility studies confirmed that designing and building a new, purpose-built museum is not only more cost-effective than renovation, but also better aligned with the Museum’s mission and long-term vision,” states the press release.

The press release continues:

“The Allentown Art Museum is elated to announce a plan to relocate to a new, purpose-built building in the heart of downtown Allentown, marking a historic milestone in the Museum’s mission to expand access to the arts and serve as a cultural anchor for the Lehigh Valley.

“This transformative project will create a free, world-class cultural destination, and enable the Allentown Art Museum (AAM) to continue its momentum of serving larger audiences of visitors, students and artists.

“The project is made possible by the approval of a purchase of a parcel of land from the Allentown Parking Authority at today’s [April 23] public meeting.

Arts corridor

“The new Museum will be at the intersection of 10th Street and Hamilton Street, strategically positioned as a link between Allentown’s commercial, entertainment and residential areas. The site will extend the city’s arts corridor, connecting cultural, entertainment and dining spaces and driving increased foot traffic to surrounding businesses, while the Museum itself will become a tourism destination for its art and architecture,” states the press release.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the Allentown Art Museum as a vibrant cultural hub,” states Weintraub in the press release, adding, “By relocating to 10th and Hamilton, we are not only expanding access to the arts but also contributing to the revitalization of downtown Allentown and creating a legacy for future generations.

“I’m extremely grateful that our Board and the city have the vision to take on this exciting opportunity,” Weintraub states.

Economic impact

In an email to AAM members, Weintraub states, “The project is expected to generate $55 million in construction spending, supporting over 500 jobs. Once open, it will generate $5.5 million in annual economic activity.

“We are in the early stages of this journey, with many milestones ahead. Rest assured, we will approach this project deliberately and look forward to updating you throughout. We are deeply grateful for your support and look forward to partnering with you as we embark on this transformative next chapter for the Allentown Art Museum and the Lehigh Valley,” Weintraub states in his email to AAM members.

The new AAM will include expanded exhibition and art storage to showcase and protect the Museum’s collection of 20,000-plus objects; and multiple education, event and community gathering areas, according to the press release.

“This moment reflects years of thoughtful planning by the Board, the leadership of Dr. Max Weintraub, and an extraordinary team dedicated to growing the Museum’s impact,” Michelle Stringer, Chair of the Board of the Allentown Art Museum, states in the press release.

“This relocation reinforces our values, including our commitment to free admission for all. We are grateful to the Allentown Parking Authority and civic leaders, including Mayor Tuerk, for helping make this bold next chapter for the AAM possible,” Stringer states.

Downtown West

“Allentown is the beating heart of the Lehigh Valley, and our arts institutions are our soul,” Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk states in the press release, adding, “The Allentown Art Museum’s investment in Downtown West will add to the vitality of Hamilton Street, enhance our growing cultural economy and shape the identity of our dynamic city. This is truly a gift to our community.”

“The Allentown Art Museum is a tremendous asset for culture and the arts in downtown Allentown,” Sen. Miller states in the press release, adding, “Their planned move to 10th and Hamilton marks an exciting new chapter.

“The transition also continues the city’s progress towards building a new, modern police station, demonstrating how strategic planning can strengthen both public safety and cultural vitality,” states Miller.

“The new space will allow for expanded exhibitions, increased community engagement, and stronger connections between the city’s cultural assets. I am proud to support this vision for the future of the Allentown Art Museum, and I look forward to seeing all that’s to come at 10th and Hamilton,” Miller states.

“Within only a slightly larger footprint than the current building, the new facility will be transformative, featuring expanded galleries, art storage and education spaces that build on the Museum’s successful programs, including Discover Art for Allentown School District students, ArtVentures for families, and Art Can for adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The new building will also support a significantly expanded suite of programs, deepening AAM’s role as a center for lifelong learning, creativity and community engagement.

“Since eliminating admission fees in 2022, the Museum has become a vital cultural resource for the community, fostering creativity, inclusion and lifelong learning,” the press release concludes.

Information: https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/