The City Arts Center at the Griffith Building

The art gallery at the newly renovated Griffith Building transforms a previously closed-off space into an open and inviting cultural destination, returning this civic space to the public. A modest reception desk tucked within the low-ceilinged entrance allows the artwork to take center stage, opening up to a soaring double-height gallery space. In combination with two single-height side galleries and movable partitions, the gallery offers infinite possibilities for customization – the layout of each show can be uniquely curated to suit the artwork on display. Fiberglass sandwich panels above the ground floor windows diffuse natural light softly throughout the interior, while seamless acoustical ceilings provide a museum-quality experience with increased sound absorption.

The gallery was designed to be highly visible from many locations. A glass front along the adjacent paseo makes the art visible to passersby both during and after gallery hours. Windows from the second-floor lobby of the Griffith Building look down into the gallery. This viewpoint will place occupants at eye level with a forthcoming suspended Chihuly sculpture that is being custom-made for the City of Round Rock. A series of irregular, ‘dancing’ windows offer additional glimpses of the art from the second-floor corridor. The gallery gives the arts program prominence within the city, reflecting the high quality of work by local and regional artists and drawing interest from national and international artists. The gallery demonstrates the city’s commitment to and value of the arts; its openness reinforces the essential role of art in enriching the lives and culture of Round Rock.