Construction has officially begun on a $40 million expansion of the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon, marking a major milestone for the cultural institution as it expands its capacity for exhibitions, education programs and community engagement.
The project, designed by Hacker Architects, will add a 24,000-square-foot wing to the museum’s existing facility.
Expansion reflects growing demand
Founded in 1982, the High Desert Museum brings together art, history and natural science to explore the landscapes and cultures of the American High Desert region. The museum was last expanded in 1989, but attendance and programming have grown significantly in recent years.
Since 2011, the institution has seen attendance increase by about 40%, while its educational and public programming has doubled, prompting the need for expanded facilities.
The new addition is designed to support this growth by creating more space for exhibitions, events and learning programs.
New spaces for exhibitions and education
The expansion will connect directly to the museum’s main building and introduce several new spaces, including:
- Additional gallery areas
- New classrooms for educational programs
- Event and gathering spaces
- A 2,775-square-foot gallery walk dedicated to nature-inspired artwork
The expanded galleries will feature generous open layouts, white exhibition walls and abundant natural light, allowing for flexible display of artworks and cultural artifacts.
Design inspired by the High Desert landscape
The architectural design reflects the surrounding High Desert landscape, known for its sagebrush terrain and dramatic canyon formations.
The new wing will feature:
- A staggered single-pitched roof profile
- Stone and wood volumes extending outward to create dramatic shadows
- Floor-to-ceiling windows
- Natural materials such as exposed wood surfaces
The design emphasizes a nature-based color palette and open gathering areas, reinforcing the museum’s focus on place-based storytelling about the region’s environment and cultural heritage.
Highlighting Indigenous cultural collections
The expansion will also support the display and preservation of the museum’s Doris Swayze Bounds collection, a significant archive of objects from the Indigenous Plateau region.
The High Desert Museum holds approximately 7,000 Indigenous Plateau artifacts, considered one of the most important collections of its kind in the United States. The project includes renovations and new installations to better showcase these culturally significant works.
Opening planned for 2027
According to Dana Whitelaw, Executive Director of the High Desert Museum, the expansion will strengthen the museum’s role as a cultural and educational hub for the region.
She noted that the transformed campus will help the museum continue evolving alongside its audiences while reinforcing its importance as a community, cultural and civic institution.
The new museum wing is expected to open to the public in 2027, significantly enhancing the visitor experience and expanding opportunities for cultural learning in Central Oregon.
