The Judd Foundation is advancing a comprehensive, multi-phase restoration plan in Marfa that aims to preserve, expand and sustain the legacy of artist Donald Judd through a combination of historic preservation, new construction and enhanced public access.
Defined by Judd’s original plans, drawings and writings, the Marfa Restoration Plan seeks not only to restore existing buildings but also to complete projects left unrealized during his lifetime, creating a unified campus that reflects his work across art, architecture, design and land conservation.
The plan is structured around three primary areas: public engagement, research and scholarship, and visitor experience.
As part of its public-facing efforts, the foundation has begun developing new spaces intended to deepen understanding of Judd’s work. The first of these, a 540-square-foot project room within the Architecture Office, is now open and serves as a flexible programming space as well as a retail area. Future phases will expand public access through additional facilities in the Archive Building and Print Building, including a library, reading rooms and dedicated viewing spaces for researchers and visitors.
Research and preservation remain central to the foundation’s mission. Plans call for expanded facilities in downtown Marfa dedicated to collections care, archival storage and scholarly work. These additions are designed to support long-term conservation efforts while providing increased access to researchers studying Judd’s life and work.
The restoration plan also emphasizes maintaining the architectural and cultural character of Marfa. In addition to restoring Judd’s buildings according to his original intent, the foundation is undertaking streetscape improvements and creating new shared indoor and outdoor spaces to integrate the campus more fully into the community.
Significant progress has already been made across several sites. The Architecture Office reopened to the public in September 2025 following a seven-year restoration that included rebuilding historic wood and copper storefronts, repairing masonry using traditional techniques and incorporating energy-efficient systems while preserving the building’s original appearance.
At La Mansana de Chinati, known as “the Block,” restoration work completed in 2023 addressed both structural and environmental challenges. Improvements included installation of more than 2,000 linear feet of French drains, a 10,000-gallon rainwater catchment system and reconstruction of the Winter Garden using more than 2,500 adobe blocks, many made on site from salvaged materials.
Additional projects remain underway or in planning stages. Restoration of a historic two-story building originally constructed in 1922 is currently in design, while ongoing efforts to stabilize and reconstruct adobe perimeter walls reflect the challenges posed by weather and aging materials.
The initiative is supported by a multidisciplinary team that includes architects, engineers and preservation specialists from across the country, reflecting the technical complexity of maintaining Judd’s structures while adapting them for modern use.
Foundation officials say the long-term goal is to ensure that Judd’s Marfa installations remain intact and accessible, balancing preservation with evolving public and scholarly engagement.
The restoration plan is expected to continue over multiple phases in the coming years as the foundation completes remaining projects and expands its campus footprint in Marfa.
