BNIM and Springfield Art Museum to Present at AMM 2025

BNIM and the Springfield Art Museum will present Building Belonging: A Museum for All, a timely and resonant case study exploring how design can advance inclusion, belonging, and community connection in museum spaces, at the 2025 Association of Midwest Museums (AMM) Conference.

Set within the conference theme of Crosscurrents, the presentation highlights how Springfield Art Museum’s renovation and expansion project has evolved over time to meet the moment. Museum Director Nick Nelson and BNIM Principal Hans Nettelblad will share the story of how a masterplan originally developed in 2018 was re-envisioned in 2023 through a lens of equity, access, and resilience. Their talk traces how physical space can reflect the shifting needs of society, especially when shaped through collaborative dialogue and trust-building with the community.

From program swaps and park-connected entries to gender-inclusive restrooms and contemplative third spaces, the design emphasizes a shift from a museum about community to one that is of the community. “It doesn’t matter what’s in the gallery if basic needs aren’t met,” says Nelson. “We’re not just designing a building, we’re building belonging.”

The session takes place on Friday, August 1st at AMM 2025 in Quad Cities, Iowa. We’re honored to be part of a larger conversation about how museums can move with purpose and courage toward a more inclusive future.

More about the conference here, and more about the project here.