The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Georgia, US, is to open its major new teaching museum dedicated to contemporary art and design tomorrow (29 October).

SCAD Museum of Art will offer 1sq ft (0.1sq m) of academic space for every 1sq ft (0.1sq m) of exhibition space, with its galleries to act as extensions to traditional classrooms.

The 82,000sq ft (7,618sq m) venue boasts the Walter O Evans Center for African American Studies and the André Leon Talley Gallery, as well as 12 second-floor classrooms.

SCAD president and co-founder Paula Wallace, along with senior vice president for college resources Glenn Wallace conceived the design of the new museum.

The design was then "executed" by alumnus and professor Christian Sottile of Sottile and Sottile Architects, while being overseen by SCAD's Martin Smith.

Other facilities at the SCAD Museum of Art will include a 250-seat theatre; a café; a terrace and an outdoor projection screen; a conservation studio; and an event atrium.

Paula Wallace said: "SCAD has a tradition of fostering innovative and dynamic art experiences, and the SCAD Museum of Art advances this rich tradition.

"Our museum is a kinetic think-tank, a collaborative wellspring of ideas and inspiration for SCAD students and professors, as well as the broader local, national and international community."

Details: www.scadmoa.org

Image: SCAD Museum of Art; photo by Adam Kuehl, courtesy of SCAD