The Huntington to Revitalize Historic Library Building and Transform Library and Art Museum Collaboration

Key Takeaways

• A multiyear renovation will strengthen how the Library and Art Museum’s collections support research, conservation, and public engagement.
• Plans include an 8,000-square-foot expansion of conservation studio capacity, redesigned exhibition spaces, and a new gallery focused on the history of science.
• The groundbreaking is planned for spring 2026.
• During construction, the Library will remain open to researchers, while a new exhibition series in the Art Museum showcases the Library’s book and manuscript collections. 

In spring 2026, The Huntington will begin an extensive renovation of its Library building, designed in 1919 by architect Myron Hunt, a leading figure of early 20th-century Southern California architecture. The project will revitalize the Library’s landmark exhibition halls and replace outdated back-of-house space with modern facilities that serve both the Library and Art Museum. The unified Library/Art Building (LAB) will be a transformative 83,000-square-foot modernization that honors the building’s historic character while reimagining its spaces for interdivisional collaboration. The design is being led by RAMSA (Robert A.M. Stern Architects). Samuel Anderson Architects is providing expertise on collections storage and conservation studio design.

The idea took shape when President Karen R. Lawrence sought a single solution to meet needs that emerged in both the Library and Art Museum. Her proposal reflected the institution’s strategic plan, which calls for integrated, cross-divisional approaches under the guiding principle of “One Huntington.” With support from senior colleagues and the Board of Trustees, the concept advanced as a unified investment in conservation infrastructure, collections care, and the visitor and researcher experience.

The LAB will replace legacy book stacks with state-of-the-art storage for more than eight linear miles of the Library’s book and manuscript collections, along with the Art Museum’s 38,000 works on paper. Light-filled, modernized spaces for consultation, collaboration, and meetings will support cross-disciplinary exchange among staff, fellows, and general readers. The building will also include a dedicated conservation studio for treating paintings and objects.

“This is the most ambitious building project in The Huntington’s history,” President Lawrence said. “It reflects our commitment to stewardship, scholarship, and public engagement, and to creating spaces that will serve our collections and our communities for the next century.”

The Library of the Future, Then and Now

Henry E. Huntington was once asked whether he planned to write an autobiography describing his career. He demurred and said in response, “This Library will tell the story; it represents the reward of all the work that I have ever done and the realization of much happiness.”

A century later, The Huntington ranks among the world’s great independent research libraries, holding a growing collection of some 12 million rare books, manuscripts, photographs, prints, drawings, and ephemera. Each year, the Library welcomes thousands of researchers, including more than 175 fellows in the nation’s largest humanities research program. To further support these visiting fellows, The Huntington is also developing Scholars Grove—a 33-unit residential complex that will provide convenient, reasonably priced housing and community space on campus.

“The Library has always anchored The Huntington’s commitment to knowledge and public access,” said Sandra Brooke Gordon, Avery Director of the Library. “Now, we’re evolving that legacy with revitalized spaces designed to support collaboration and a broader community of researchers. The LAB will also enhance the experience of the hundreds of thousands of visitors who each year discover the Library’s collections in our exhibition halls.”

While the Library’s exhibition halls are closed for renovation, visitors can experience some of its most iconic and unexpected works in the exhibition series Stories from the Library, located in the Huntington Art Museum. 

Stories from the Library debuted June 21, 2025, with two exhibitions: one centered on Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, the other on visionary figures who have shaped Los Angeles. The series will continue through 2028.

The research library will remain open throughout construction of the LAB. All of the Library’s collections will be on site and available to researchers. 

Art Museum Enhancements

The LAB will also become the new home for the Art Museum’s extensive collection of works on paper—over 38,000 drawings, watercolors, and prints, representing upwards of 80% of its holdings. Because these works are light sensitive, this major part of the art collection is rarely accessible to the public in gallery displays. A new Works on Paper Study Center will provide space for consultation, research, and display, expanding access for scholars, students, and early-career professionals. 

“Housing the museum’s works on paper and library collections under one roof will deepen scholarship and spark new forms of inquiry,” said Christina Nielsen, Hannah and Russel Kully Director of the Art Museum. “This kind of proximity will foster not only interdisciplinary research but richer, more nuanced exhibitions.”

The Art Museum’s collection features over 45,000 artworks from Europe, America, and East Asia that span more than 2,000 years. Conserving paintings and objects across the Art Museum and Library’s collections helps preserve fragile materials for future generations and yields new information about how they were made and used. 

Increasing Access for Scholars and Visitors

The LAB will not only integrate staff but also significantly enhance experiences for general visitors to The Huntington. A new gallery dedicated to the history of science will replace the former “Beautiful Science” exhibition with “Worlds Unfolding: Science on the Page.” The new installation will showcase the Library’s extensive holdings in science, technology, and medicine. It will feature a diverse selection of medieval through modern works on topics ranging from astronomy, anatomy, and geology to electricity, the aerospace industry, and futuristic dream worlds of science fiction. 

Expanding public access to its collections has long been central to The Huntington’s mission, and today, a wide range of readers makes use of its research resources. Any adult working on a research project that is well served by the collections is welcome to apply for a reader’s card. Fifteen percent of recent consultations have come from beyond the traditional ranks of advanced researchers, reflecting the Library’s broadened access for artists, writers, and community researchers. The LAB will support this wider audience with accessible study areas, clearer navigation, and more streamlined access to research materials—ensuring that rare items are both useable and protected.

What’s Next

As groundbreaking approaches in spring 2026, The Huntington nears completion of its $126.6 million fundraising campaign. More than $100 million has already been committed by foundations and donors who recognize the project’s long-term impact.

Generous support for the Stories from the Library exhibition series is provided by the Robert F. Erburu Exhibition Endowment. Additional support is provided by The Neilan Foundation, the Steinmetz Foundation, and Laura and Carlton Seaver.

For media inquiries or to request high-resolution press images, email huntingtonnews@huntington.org.

About The Huntington

The Huntington, a world-renowned cultural and educational institution, provides transformative experiences for a community of the curious. Founded in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington, it supports research and promotes public engagement through its expansive library, art, and botanical collections. By cultivating dynamic scholarship, creating innovative programs for students and lifelong learners, and sharing its extraordinary resources, The Huntington invites all on a journey of discovery, insight, and connection. Only 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles, The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California. Learn more at huntington.org.