International architecture firm Snøhetta will design the Hopkins Center expansion, the college announced.

Part of the project will be the “[i]ntroduction of a new, more welcoming entry for ease of arrival and orientation,” but that is presumably a reference to what students consider the rear entrance, on Lebanon Street. The promotional page for the project states that conceptual designs will be finished this spring.

A bit of the back story: The college planning of the Wright era included a 2002 Rogers Marvel master plan for the arts district. It focused on expanding the Hop. Several years later (was it in 2010, with the Arts Center of the 21st Century symposium?), the Portland, Oregon firm of Bora designed a fine set of additions and interventions for the Hop. One image showed a new Lebanon Street entrance with a glassy curtain in place of the mute granite of the current blank porte-cochère. The school did not give the go-ahead, however.

By 2019, the Hop’s page at the Call To Lead campaign website was giving notice that “the selection of an architect partner will be unveiled as early as 2020” (Wayback archived copy). That must be Snøhetta. Apparently Arup has already completed an initial study.

This promises to be an exciting journey for a familiar and endearing complex. Construction designs are expected in mid-2022.