NEWS: $37M expansion for Queens Museum of Art
From the Queens Courier:
http://www.queenscourier.com/articles/2006/10/12/headline_news/news01.txt
BY PETE DAVIS
Thursday, October 12, 2006 2:39 PM CDT
The Queens Museum of Art released their design plans for its major expansion project, which will include more space inside for galleries and a new design for its east facade.
The Queens Museum of Art released their design plans for its major expansion and renovation project that will give the museum a new look and nearly double its current size.
Grimshaw Architects along with the consulting firm Ammann & Whitney designed the project to occupy the entire New York City Building giving additional space to use for more galleries that are permanent, public and special events, education classrooms, visitor amenities as well as storage and office space.
“I just think it is going to be spectacular and modest at the same time,” said Executive Director of the Queens Museum of Art Tom Finkelpearl.
Construction on the nearly $37 million expansion, which will be world-famous architect Grimshaw Architects’ first major museum design in the United States, is expected to begin late in 2007 with a projected completion date two years later.
Finkelpearl said that generally, museums see a spike in attendance immediately after a major renovation or expansion project occurs, but the numbers often do not stay at those increased levels. However, he is optimistic that when the Queens Museum’s expansion project is complete, the numbers will remain high.
“The trick is to hold onto that initial audience, and I think the nature of the museum will be different enough to justify a much larger audience,” Finkelpearl said. “This is a big chance for the big step forward.”
This museum is housed in the only remaining building of the 1939 World’s Fair, which also was the home of the United Nations when that body adopted the International Bill of Human Rights and oversaw the birth of the nation of Israel.