Stroll past the Museum of Riverside’s construction site and peer through the fence. Do this every day and you’re likely to see something new each time because progress continues at a brisk pace on the rehabilitation and expansion of the downtown Museum site. Museum staff continue to aim for a reopening no earlier than late 2027.
BNBuilders of Irvine, California, began construction in July 2025. Fences came first, and then some observers were startled to see the pillars turn orange as a temporary protective cladding was installed on historic features that would be staying in place. Careful and selective demolition has occurred over the past few months, bringing with it the inevitable discoveries and surprises, such as previously unknown underground concrete or disused old utility lines. A few have caused minor delays, but the project is moving forward steadily. Every week—and sometimes every day—Museum staff, other City staff, and our architects (Perkins Eastman) are onsite responding to the day’s discoveries and progress.
Seeing the interior spaces opened up has been a revelation to those familiar with the much-modified and maze-like interior that had caused such challenges in the past for the Museum’s exhibitions developers. Even with none of the new spaces yet built out, it’s possible to see the tremendous potential of the planned new galleries. The discovery in the basement of a bricked-in opening to the historic tunnel system under Mission Inn Avenue, used long ago to supply steam heat to several nearby buildings, was a great surprise. Modifications to the design of this portion of the basement are under way to make this feature viewable by the public upon reopening.
The construction stage involving demolition and underground work is the phase most likely to serve up surprises. As we approach the end of this phase, we look forward to watching the new addition rise. We held a public hard hat tour in February and expect to offer one or two more of those as construction progresses…