The Industrial Charm of Mass MoCa

The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) occupies a sprawling brick complex whose architectural framework, exposed steel, high rafters, and long rows of windows give every nook a sense of history and grit. The building’s cavernous rooms are perfect for events and large, ambitious works.

On a visit last week, shafts of low sun flooded the spaces, making the vast interiors feel unexpectedly open and bright — even in deep winter.
These are just some select photos of the building where I tried to capture its industrial charm and geometry.

Mass MoCA is housed in a sprawling mill and factory once home to Sprague Electric (founded 1926). The buildings date back to the 19th century, though manufacturing and industry was located on the site since the 1700s. Sprague was a significant electronics manufacturer, and a critical employer in North Adams for decades. After Sprague’s decline and the factory closure, the buildings were repurposed and eventually reimagined as Mass MoCA.