Jepson Center for the Arts, part of the Telfair Museums complex

A striking, contemporary building designed in 2006 by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the Jepson Center for the Arts (121 Barnard St., overlooking Telfair Square, 912-790-8800) is part of and adjacent to the South's oldest public art museum, the Regency-style Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences. Together with Owens-Thomas House (several blocks away), these venues make up the Telfair Museums, which contain an immense and esteemed collection of artwork and furnishings. With more than 7,500 square feet of state-of-the-art exhibition space, the Jepson contains much of the Telfair's art holdings, including a highly acclaimed contemporary collection with works by Johns, Lichtenstein, Avedon, and many other luminaries. There's also a large auditorium, an interactive family-oriented gallery called ArtZeum, and Cafe Zeum, on the second floor - a terrific spot for lunch. Note that the cost of admission is good for all three components of the Telfair Museum family.