The Momentary

The Momentary, a satellite of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, has transformed a decommissioned 63,000-square-foot cheese processing plant into a multi-disciplinary space for visual and performing arts, culinary experiences, festivals, and artists-in-residence. The plant’s industrial atmosphere has been retained, while creating new exhibit spaces and four performance spaces. 

The original Milk Intake Room was developed into The RØDE House; a highly versatile 350-seat space for music, dance, and theatre performances. The space is equipped with a flexible stage lighting system mounted to overhead trusses, as well as 10 high-capacity flooring lifts that quickly and easily create varied stage and audience configurations. 

More flexibility is found in The Fermentation Room. With telescopic seating, the former aging room supports audiences of 100 guests and is equipped with an overhead catwalk system, flexible stage lighting system, acoustic control banners, and a wall railing system that allows easy attachment of scenery, lights, and equipment.

Surrounded by artifacts from the The Momentary’s former life, The Tower is one of the building’s prime features. Contiguous to a main gallery, the space provides a flexible 70-foot performance room with portable seating systems and optimized rigging and lighting support systems that allow various sizes and shapes of performances. 

On the grounds of The Momentary is an outdoor music venue that supports audiences of over 4,000. Schuler Shook advised on audience foot traffic, sightlines, accessibility strategies, and planned the stage power to support touring artists.