High-Profile Architecture takes shape at Balboa Park 

The architectural debut of the globally renowned British studio founded by Norman Foster in 1967 is inching closer to reality at The San Diego Museum of Art. The same firm that brought The Gherkin to London and  Apple Park to Cupertino has named a local San Diego firm, Safdie Rabines Architects, to enhance the 1926 museum.

Groundbreaking is set for 2027 with the opening slated for 2030. 

“This local expertise, combined with the global perspective of Foster + Partners, will ensure our museum’s renovation honors its history while creating a truly future-forward space for the community,” says SDMA CEO Roxana  Velásquez. 

“Safdie Rabines Architects’ deep understanding of the local landscape and their commitment to sustainable, thoughtful design are perfectly aligned with our vision for this project.”

Together, the firms will transform SDMA’s visitor experience, double the exhibit space, enliven the community space and integrate seamlessly with Balboa Park’s landscape. 

Founded in San Diego in 1993 by husband and wife Ricardo Rabines and Taal Safdie, Safdie Rabines’ design philosophy reflects a deep sense of place. The award-winning portfolio includes civic and public work, academic and higher education facilities, mixed-use developments, and master planned communities. On the CV: the Epstein Family Amphitheater, Scripps Seaside and this writer’s personal favorite, the Scripps Crossing Pedestrian Bridge.

“As architects who live and work in San Diego, we have been waiting for this important moment of transformation in Balboa Park,” says Founding Partner Ricardo Rabines. “The Museum is on the cusp of a new era full of opportunities to elevate art and culture in our region and will play a key role in the future of our city.”

Rooted in sustainability, Foster + Partners  have established a worldwide reputation for thoughtful and pioneering design. Currently on the boards: One Beverly Hills masterplan in Los Angeles, and JPMorgan Chase’s new Park Avenue headquarters in New York.

“We’re delighted to welcome Safdie Rabines Architects to the team and look forward to collaborating with them to reinvigorate a San Diego landmark with a sustainable and community focused scheme that will enhance public access to art,” said Kirsten Scott, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners.

See the plans up close. SDMA’s current exhibition “A New Vision for the Next Century” showcases blueprints and architectural models. It also houses more than 32,000 works — dating from 3000 BC to present day — including Spanish and Italian old masters, the Edwin Binney 3rd Collection of South Asian paintings, East

Asian art, art from the Americas, Modern and Contemporary art, and the Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA).