Handover of the James-Simon-Galerie to the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

**On Am Kupfergraben, the James-Simon-Galerie connects directly to the Pergamonmuseum.** © Ute Zscharnt for David Chipperfield Architects

**James-Simon-Galerie, autumn 2018, shortly before the keys were handed over.** © Ute Zscharnt for David Chipperfield Architects

**View of the James-Simon-Galerie from the south: the gallery opens to Bodestrasse with a wide flight of steps.** © Ute Zscharnt for David Chipperfield Architects

**From the terrace of the James-Simon-Galerie, the cupola of the Humboldt Forum is visible in the distance.** © Ute Zscharnt for David Chipperfield Architects

Handover of the James-Simon-Galerie to the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

13.12.2018
James-Simon-Galerie

The day has finally arrived. Construction work has been completed on the James-Simon-Galerie, the future central service building of the Museumsinsel Berlin. In a festive ceremonial act attended by the Minister of State for Culture, Monika Grütters, and Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of the Interior, Building and Community, Marco Wanderwitz, the keys to the James-Simon-Galerie were today handed over to the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

Over the coming months, the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin will put the finishing touches on the building. The opening of the James-Simon-Galerie is slated for summer 2019. Shortly thereafter, it will host its first special exhibition, Near Life.

Designed by David Chipperfield, the building will serve as the Museumsinsel Berlin’s point of entry and visitor centre, providing central service functions such as the ticket office, cloak rooms, café and shops, as well as spaces for special exhibitions and events. From this building, visitors will be able to enter the Architecture of Antiquity Tour in the Pergamonmuseum, and also access the Neues Museum via the Archaeological Promenade.

The building forms part of the Museumsinsel Master Plan, which was drawn up in 1999 to preserve the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and at the same time reshape the location into a modern museum complex. It bears the name of one of the most important patrons of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, the Jewish entrepreneur James Simon.