MFAH Demolishes Midcentury Holland Lodge, Public Greenspace Set for 2028

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) has initiated the demolition of the Holland Lodge, a midcentury modern structure built in 1954, located at 4911 Montrose Boulevard. Acquired in May 2025 to enhance its 14-acre campus, the building was adorned with a carved stone frieze by sculptor William M. McVey, an architecture student at Rice University in the 1920s. The MFAH intends to transform the two-acre area into a public greenspace with parking, designed by Nelson Byrd Woltz, set to open in 2028. According to Director Gary Tinterow, the demolition was mandated by the sale contract, hindering preservation efforts by Preservation Houston and Houston Mod. The frieze, which illustrated Freemasonry themes, was completely dismantled by July 21, 2026. McVey's similar relief, 'Energy,' was saved at Rice University in 2021 and relocated in 2023. The new greenspace will expand the campus to 16 walkable acres.