09/03/2026
Did you know that one of Miami University’s most distinctive buildings was designed to stand out from everything around it?
📐While much of Miami’s campus is known for its beautiful red-brick Georgian architecture 🧱, the Richard and Carole C***s Art Museum was designed to be something completely different.
Built in 1978
The museum was designed by architect Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Its bold, angular, and geometric design was created as a deliberate contrast to Miami University's traditional red-brick Georgian Revival buildings.
💡A Vision Made Possible Through Giving-
The museum was funded through Miami University's “Goals for Enrichment” campaign, with a major gift from alumnus Fred C. Yager, Class of 1914. 🎓
🖼️ Growing a Collection
Early art donations from Walter I. Farmer, Class of 1935, and faculty member Orpha B. Webster helped plant the seeds of what has grown into a remarkable collection of more than 17,500 objects.
📚A New Chapter in 2022
In 2022, the museum was renamed the Richard and Carole C***s Art Museum following a major gift from longtime supporters and collectors Richard and Carole C***s. Their generosity continues to support the museum's renovation, expansion, collection care, and future growth.
🚧What’s Happening Now?
The museum galleries are currently closed for renovation and are expected to reopen in Fall 2027.
🌳But the art continues outside!
The RCCAM Sculpture Park remains open year-round, inviting visitors to experience art in conversation with nature, landscape, architecture, and the changing seasons.
🎟️Free. Open. Ready to explore.
Next time you visit, take a closer look—not only at the art, but at the building itself. Every angle tells part of the story. 📐
