BOSTON, MA. 11/ 08/ 2011: NOTE: DO NOT USE MAGAZINE ONLY Exterior view under construction of The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum extension and preservation project under construction and finished site. The Museum is scheduled to open January 19th, 2012 ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION : MAGAZINE SLUG : gardnermuseum REPORTER staff

Gardner architect’s vision becomes reality

FOR ARTS. Boston, MA 12/1/2011 Renzo Piano (cq) is photographed in the foreground of the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, MA on Thursday, December 1, 2011. (Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff) Section: ARTS Slug: 15gardnerarchit Reporter: Joe Kahn LOID: 5.0.603879324

Architect Renzo Piano, a Pritzker Prize winner whose firm has designed and renovated art museums around the world, designed the new wing at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

FROM MERLIN ARCHIVE DO NOT RESEND TO LIBRARY Boston, MA., 04/07/08, Architect Renzo Piano, right, and Anne Hawley, the Norma Jean Calderwood Director of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, enter the main open space. Piano is designing renovation/expansions at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Fogg Art Museum. Piano is coming to town to visit with folks at the Gardner Museum. Piano spoke to reporter about how people enter the space from the dark and then into the bright coutyard. Section: Arts, Reporter: Edgers Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff / library tag 04252009 business

Architect Renzo Piano, right, and Anne Hawley, director of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, met at the museum in 2008.

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

Boston, MA: 11-23-10: The original Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum building seen through windows of what will become a special exhibitions gallery in the new construction at the museum n Boston, Mass. November 23, 2010. Photo/John Blanding, Boston Globe staff Story/Geoff Edgers, Arts ( 05gardner ) 23artfacts

The original Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum building seen through windows of the new special exhibitions gallery, under construction on Nov. 23, 2010.

John Blanding/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA. 12/ 145/ 2011: At the windows is Emanuela Baglietto, partner in charge, the project architect at Gardner museum's gallery room ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION : ARTS TOPIC : GARDNERMUSEUM REPORTER

In the new gallery, natural light is controlled by a system of overlapping shades.

David L. Ryan/globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA. 04/ 19 /2011: NOTE: DO NOT USE MAGAZINE ONLY The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum extension and preservation project under construction and finished site. The Museum is scheduled to open January 19th, 2012 ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION : MAGAZINE SLUG : gardnermuseum REPORTER staff

Construction of the museum on April 19, 2011.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

The addition is clad in glass and patinated copper.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA. 04/ 19 /2011: NOTE: DO NOT USE MAGAZINE ONLY Central stairway.....The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum extension and preservation project under construction and finished site. The Museum is scheduled to open January 19th, 2012 ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION : MAGAZINE SLUG : gardnermuseum REPORTER staff

Building of the central stairway on April 19, 2011.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

A view of the palace from the central staircase.

David Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA. 06/ 15 /2011: Gardner Museum extension under construction. ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION : ARTS SLUG : REPORTER

Aerial view of the construction site in June 2011 shows the original palace in the foreground and the new wing being built behind.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA. 04/ 19 /2011: NOTE: DO NOT USE MAGAZINE ONLY Construction of the glass covered walkway between the old and new. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum extension and preservation project under construction and finished site. The Museum is scheduled to open January 19th, 2012 ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION : MAGAZINE SLUG : gardnermuseum REPORTER staff

Construction in April 2011 of the glass-walled corridor that links the new wing to the existing museum.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA. 05/ 12 /2011: NOTE: DO NOT USE MAGAZINE ONLY The glas enclosed walkway from the old to the new wing at The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum extension and preservation project under construction and finished site. The Museum is scheduled to open January 19th, 2012 ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION : MAGAZINE SLUG : gardnermuseum REPORTER staff

In May 2011 workers built the glass-covered walkway

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA. 011/ 08/ 2011: NOTE: DO NOT USE MAGAZINE ONLY The glass corridor and courtyard at The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum extension and preservation project under construction and finished site. The Museum is scheduled to open January 19th, 2012 ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION : MAGAZINE SLUG : gardnermuseum REPORTER staff

The glass corrider was completed and connected to the new wing.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA. 04/ 19 /2011: NOTE: DO NOT USE MAGAZINE ONLY The Living Room...The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum extension and preservation project under construction and finished site. The Museum is scheduled to open January 19th, 2012 ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION : MAGAZINE SLUG : gardnermuseum REPORTER staff

Workers inside the Living Room, which is next to the main entrance, in April 2011.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA., 01/11/ 2012: The Living Room of the new wing at The Gardner Museum unveils its new building to the media. ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION: LIFESTYLE TOPIC :12gardner REPORTER

The finished Living Room on Jan 11, 2012, is a place where visitors can talk to the staff at the museum.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA. 12/ 09/ 2011: The Gardner Museum's new wing. ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION :ARTS TOPIC :GARDNERMUSEUM REPORTER

The $114 million addition is slightly larger than Gardner's original at 70,000 square feet.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA. 12/ 09/ 2011: Side stairway at The Gardner Museum's new wing. ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION :ARTS TOPIC :GARDNERMUSEUM REPORTER

A view of an exterior staircase.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA. 11/ 08/ 2011: NOTE: DO NOT USE MAGAZINE ONLY Exterior view under construction of The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum extension and preservation project under construction and finished site. The Museum is scheduled to open January 19th, 2012 ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION : MAGAZINE SLUG : gardnermuseum REPORTER staff

A construction worker worked on the glass facade in November 2011.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA. 11/ 09/ 2011:On going construction work as Master acoustician Yashu Toyota

In the Calderwood Performance Hall, musicians tested the acoustics.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012

BOSTON, MA 01 / 08 / 2012: The Isabella Stewart Gardner museum getting ready, the big run up to the opening of the Gardner's new building with Jim Labeck, the project manager. ( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION: LIFESTYLE TOPIC : REPORTER Geoff Edgers

The Gardner Museum's new main entrance is on Evans Way.

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff | January 14, 2012