The opening, which will develop during the last weekend of June, will count with several activities, public access and night visit.
The project connects the expansion with the old building with a new Grand Stair which provides a seamless transition to the lower-level galleries. Besides there are a new cafe, renovated shop and auditorium and access to the new parking garage.
One of the most important points in the expansion is the new ceilings, which provide natural light to collection galleries and public spaces, giving visitors a dynamic viewing experience with light that changes with outdoor conditions.
The museum programme is highly increased: the 21 galleries of the East Building increase approximately 30 percent the total gallery space of the Museum. Seven of the new galleries will be used for temporary exhibitions, allowing the Museum to convert its former temporary exhibition galleries into additional space for permanent collection. The East Building galleries will be used for modern and contemporary art.
During the construction period, curators have taken the opportunity to rethink the presentation of the Museum which includes more than 33,000 works of art. By the time of the public opening, more than 1,550 works will have been reinstalled in 50 renovated galleries in the Main Building, in presentations that bear the title A New Vision. Of the reinstalled works, 478 have not been public view for at least 20 years.
Date.- 29th and 30th June de 2013.
Venue.- Saint Louis Art Museum. One Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park, St Louis, MO.
CREDITS:
Architects.- David Chipperfield Architects
Collaborators.- The Rise Group (Project manager), Magnusson Klemencic Asociados (structural/civil engineer), Arup (MEP/FP/lighting/acoustics design engineer), Davis Langdon (cost consultant), Matthew Marchbank (models), David Chipperfield Architects (model photography).
Client.- Saint Louis Art Museum
Expansion floor area.- 9,000 m2
Budget.- $32 million
