Museum Expansion
Rock & roll has always pushed the envelope. Now we are going even further. A ground-breaking expansion of our museum designed by world-renowned architecture firm, PAU, will bring our vision for a new, state-of-the-art addition to life.
This dramatic project will channel the energy of rock & roll, pay homage to the existing I.M. Pei building, and amp up the museum’s beautiful lakefront location. It will provide:
- Indoor event and performance space to experience the power of live rock & roll
- A breathtaking entry experience worthy of rock & roll
- Much-needed spaces to expand the number of students served
- Additional areas for the community to gather and connect
- A student center for visitors to experience our archives
With this bold museum expansion, fans will continue to experience the connective power of music in our unparalleled, technologically advanced, interactive exhibits and programs.
Join us in preserving the history of this powerful art form so that we can share it with the next generation.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is dedicated to making a difference. We intentionally foster an equitable museum that encourages and embraces creativity and innovation. As a community leader, we recognize the impact we have on all aspects of our society, from economic to social to environmental. Our museum expansion continues this work, allowing us to better serve our community and fans, celebrate artists, and keep the spirit of rock and roll alive.
Along with the indoor event space, these new spaces allow us to significantly increase our free programming and events. During the summer months we focus on supporting local musicians through a free concert series, and the new spaces will allow us to continue that regardless of weather conditions.
The atrium in the new expansion building is a free, un-ticketed space for the public to enjoy and connect through the power of music. This atrium is the main public entryway into the museum and includes the community stairs, a reception area and bar, and spectacular views of Lake Erie. This programmable gathering place will greet all fans, students and artists who visit – over 600,000 each year!
The Community Park, designed by James Corner Field Operations, will activate our beautiful lakefront location and will increase community access to the waterfront. This park is a critical step towards Cleveland’s vision for an active, revitalized downtown neighborhood and will provide opportunities for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center, and community programming to further enrich the area for residents and visitors that is fully redesigned and accessible year-round. We are grateful for the generous support of the George Gund Foundation and the State of Ohio, which allows this park to provide better connections to our Great Lakes and Northcoast Harbor. We will also use these spaces to host some of our large free community events, like MLK Day, Pride Rocks, Fam Jam, Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Rock and Resilience and so much more!
The Patty & Jay Baker Hall will provide thousands with a versatile space for concerts, community events, and educational programming each year. This adaptable space, a major component of the new building, alleviates the great need for a large community commons to operate in tandem with the museum, allowing the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame full operation for members and fans during large events.
The Howley Family Student Center at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will be the first space in the museum’s history uniquely designed and built for the tens of thousands of K-12 students who visit the Rock Hall each year. Our award-winning museum educators will deliver impactful programs in this space engaging every student group during their visit. Multipurpose in nature, the Student Center will cater to the needs of our community partners. This space will expand our already robust school field trip opportunities, as well as allow additional public programs for audiences of all ages. Community groups can also access the space for collaborative partnerships, programs, and events. By improving our ability to better support organizations and their audiences, this space will allow us to reach more of our NEO community than ever before.
Thanks to the KeyBank Foundation’s $10 million historic gift to the Rock Hall, we’re offering the CLE VIP ticket program with free admission to the museum for residents currently residing within the City of Cleveland limits. Click here to find out more and see all our visit options.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is committed to working with and advocating for communities, organizations, and businesses to create a vibrant economic environment. We are dedicated to using strategies that benefit economic growth and shape the future of Northeast Ohio. A cornerstone of our expansion is our Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion (DEAI) work, which works to match our impact with our intent.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame aims to make a greater impact than simply meeting company and workforce goals as we proceed with our expansion. Our mission is to raise up new firms as well as individuals entering the construction related work force for the first time. Working with our partners, A.M. Higley, the GCP and The AKA Team, as well as all possible consultants, suppliers, and subcontractors on the project, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is determined to be a catalyst for opportunity in the entire NEO community.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is setting goals to attain:
- MBE goal: 15% of all contractors and subcontractors on eligible portions of the construction project
- Minority Employee goal: 20% of the construction workforce
- FBE goal: 7% of all contractors and subcontractors
- Female Employee goal: 5% of the construction workforce
- Workforce goals: 33% Cuyahoga County residents, 20% City of Cleveland residents
- SBE goal: 30% of eligible firms
We will work to track all Tier II subcontractors and suppliers to further illustrate the expansion’s contribution to our local economic prosperity. This work will include professional monitoring by a third-party to ensure full transparency and due diligence. We will also partner with our contractors, CMSD, St. Martin De Porres, Tri-C, and GCP to assist in the funding of certifications as needed, to develop apprenticeship, training, and classroom programs related to the construction of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame expansion.
A.M. Higley
The AKA Team
Greater Cleveland Partnership
Project Management Consultants, LLC
City of Cleveland
Cuyahoga County
State of Ohio
PAU Studio
Robert Madison International
DLR Group
James Corner Field Operations
Osborn Engineering
Thompson Hine LLC