Muhammad Ali Center To Undergo Major Renovations Including Main Lobby, Retail Store, And Group Entrance

The Muhammad Ali Center, which opened twelve years ago this month, will be undergoing major renovations that include a complete redesign of its Main Lobby, the Ali Center Store, and Group Entrance. Beyond the normal wear & tear from an approximate 1.2 million visitors over the past dozen years, these enhancements will provide the Center the opportunity to deliver a better overall visitor experience and more contemporary private event space. Additionally, the much needed upgrades will offer a fresh and modern appearance to its retail store, while also supplying better functionality. A major part of the overall improvements will be a custom designed terrazzo floor in the Main Lobby, which will present a striking and welcoming impression upon entering the Center, and provide better durability for this high traffic area.

The renovations, expected to begin in mid-January 2018, will take about three months to complete. While public access to the Ali Center will be affected during this time, visitors will still have access to most areas of the Center, including its 2-1/2 levels of award-winning exhibits and most private event spaces. The Ali Center Store, now located next to the Main Lobby, will be temporarily moved to the Ina B. Bond Gallery on the Center’s Fourth Floor. It is expected that the Ali Center will be closed to visitors from January 8-14, and will re-open on January 15 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 

The firm responsible for the project is Patrick D. Murphy Architects.

“These improvements will create a more vibrant and impactful experience for our visitors,” said Donald Lassere, president and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center, “and we are grateful to our donors and other supporters who are making this possible.”