Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston

For many years after its 1936 founding, Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art was hampered by cramped and inappropriate spaces. But in 2006, the ICA opened a spectacular new home on the waterfront, designed by New York architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro. It was the first entirely new museum built in Boston in a century, and its dramatic cantilevered shape made it one of the city’s most instantly recognizable buildings. The ICA’s permanent collection has yet to catch up, but special exhibits have kept the museum’s profile high. Keep an eye out for drama, dance and music events in the glass-walled theater and outside on the harbor-walk. Oh, and the giant glass elevator is a must-ride.

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