The Museum of Art and Light is a transformative cultural project located in the heart of downtown Manhattan, Kansas. Construction began with critical infrastructure work on October 10, when crews relocated the sanitary sewer line in the alley between Houston and Pierre Streets to make way for vertical construction.

By early 2023, the project moved into the demolition phase with interior teardown of the former Sears store at 205 S. 4th Street and site preparation for the new museum structure. As outlined in the City of Manhattan’s project proposal, the vision included a new 40,000 square-foot, three-story museum on the former parking lot north of Pierre Street between 3rd and 4th Streets. The plan also called for a full interior remodel of the historic Sears building to serve as additional gallery and office space.

One of the museum’s most exciting features is a one-of-a-kind Digital Art experience — a large, blacked-out space filled with immersive light projections and holographic displays designed to engage and inspire. This unique space will connect the renovated Sears building to the new museum addition, creating a seamless and dynamic visitor experience.

Designed by LK Architecture, the project was completed in October 2024, on time and within budget, even following a series of owner-initiated changes. As City Planner Ben Chimel noted, “This is a very large project unlike anything we’ve seen at the city in recent records.”

The Museum of Art and Light is not only a celebration of artistic innovation but also a landmark example of adaptive reuse and forward-thinking urban development in Manhattan.