Institute of Contemporary Art

When the ICA moved from its former fire station digs to its gleaming new home on the waterfront, both the local and international arts community took notice. The Diller, Scofidio & Renfro-designed building, which cantilevers over the channel, offers 65,000 square feet of gallery, performance and classroom space plus a large museum shop and Wolfgang Puck café overlooking the harbor. The glass and steel structure—a major departure from Boston’s traditional architecture and a sight in its own right—houses a permanent collection from names such as Nan Goldin and Thomas Hirschhorn as well as fascinating exhibitions of artists across all mediums.