FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the major goals of the Museum's expansion project?
The design process was focused on both practical and philosophical goals. The practical goals comprised creating new gallery space for the collection, expanding and improving visitor amenities, and enhancing operational shortcomings in our century-old building. Philosophical goals have been just as focused. Our intention has been to construct a building appropriate for our time with a distinctive architectural character that stands on its own and complements the Cass Gilbert building, while taking advantage of the Museum's spectacular site in Forest Park.
The design calls for an addition to the east and south of the original 1904 building with a dark, polished concrete façade incorporating Missouri river aggregate. New galleries and public spaces will feature skylights and a number of floor-to-ceiling windows to invite and provide views from both inside and outside.
The more-than-200,000-square-foot expansion will provide new galleries, public space, and a 300-space below-grade parking garage, as well as a new, fully accessible entrance on Fine Arts Drive. The expansion represents a 30 percent increase in the Museum's gallery and public space, and will more than double its prior parking capacity.
As part of the project, the historic Cass Gilbert building will be improved, with over 13,000 square feet of space renovated for permanent collection galleries, education, classroom, and public use. A dedicated bus/group tour entrance will be located to the south of the Museum. This new group entrance will relieve traffic congestion from Fine Arts Drive and improve safety for the tens of thousands of school children who visit the Museum every year.
Architect David Chipperfield's design organically links the expansion to the current structure by connecting to existing primary circulation axes. It features a new central staircase to more clearly connect Level 2 to Level 1 and a new public concourse serving an expanded cafe and the existing Museum Shop and Auditorium. A new restaurant will feature a dramatic overlook of Forest Park to the north.
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The design calls for an addition to the east and south of the original 1904 building with a dark, polished concrete façade incorporating Missouri river aggregate. New galleries and public spaces will feature skylights and a number of floor-to-ceiling windows to invite and provide views from both inside and outside.
The more-than-200,000-square-foot expansion will provide new galleries, public space, and a 300-space below-grade parking garage, as well as a new, fully accessible entrance on Fine Arts Drive. The expansion represents a 30 percent increase in the Museum's gallery and public space, and will more than double its prior parking capacity.
As part of the project, the historic Cass Gilbert building will be improved, with over 13,000 square feet of space renovated for permanent collection galleries, education, classroom, and public use. A dedicated bus/group tour entrance will be located to the south of the Museum. This new group entrance will relieve traffic congestion from Fine Arts Drive and improve safety for the tens of thousands of school children who visit the Museum every year.
Architect David Chipperfield's design organically links the expansion to the current structure by connecting to existing primary circulation axes. It features a new central staircase to more clearly connect Level 2 to Level 1 and a new public concourse serving an expanded cafe and the existing Museum Shop and Auditorium. A new restaurant will feature a dramatic overlook of Forest Park to the north.
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Will the Museum remain open?
The Museum is open to the public while the expansion is underway. During construction, the Museum continues to host, organize and circulate temporary exhibitions. In addition, the Museum continues its educational and public programming, assisting its audience in understanding the meaning of and engaging with the great works of art in its care. To see the Museum's current hours, click here
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When will the expansion project be completed?
A public opening of the David Chipperfield–designed expansion is anticipated in 2013.
Significant completion of the new building is anticipated for early 2012, with at least a year dedicated to testing systems, and installing interior finishes and works of art.
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Significant completion of the new building is anticipated for early 2012, with at least a year dedicated to testing systems, and installing interior finishes and works of art.
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Why is the expansion necessary?
Over the past 125 years, strategic acquisitions by the Saint Louis Art Museum and magnificent gifts from local benefactors have created a collection that places the Museum among the top 10 comprehensive art museums in the country. In addition to providing increased gallery space and expanded education and classroom facilities, the design includes extensive improvements that address essential infrastructure deficiencies that have challenged the institution for more than a century.
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How much will the project cost?
The project cost is $130.5 million, along with a $31.2 million endowment to support the incremental costs of operating the larger facility.
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How is the project being funded?
The expansion and endowment are being privately funded through gifts to the capital campaign, foundation support, and proceeds from the sale of tax-exempt bonds. While tax proceeds continue to provide critical annual support for the Museum's operations, no tax funds will be used for the expansion.
During the leadership phase of the capital campaign, the Museum received commitments of over $135 million, including contributions from 100 percent of the Museum's Board of Commissioners and 86 percent of the Museum's Board of Trustees. Six lead gifts of $10 million or more each were made during the leadership phase of The Campaign for the Saint Louis Art Museum by community leaders Emily Rauh Pulitzer, Alvin J. and Ruth Siteman, Jack C. Taylor, John D. and Anabeth Weil, Gary C. Werths and one anonymous donor. The success of the campaign's leadership phase allowed the Museum to set a formal goal of $145 million for the public phase.
We want to thank all of our donors. Gifts at all levels are important for this historic effort for the future of the Museum.
The project is supported in part through the sale of tax-exempt bonds. The Museum received an institutional rating of Aa3 from Moody's Investor Service Inc., and long-term debt ratings of "A1" from Moody's and "A+" from Standard & Poor's Rating Services, based on the strength of its leadership, the stability of its operations and financial support of the project from the community.
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During the leadership phase of the capital campaign, the Museum received commitments of over $135 million, including contributions from 100 percent of the Museum's Board of Commissioners and 86 percent of the Museum's Board of Trustees. Six lead gifts of $10 million or more each were made during the leadership phase of The Campaign for the Saint Louis Art Museum by community leaders Emily Rauh Pulitzer, Alvin J. and Ruth Siteman, Jack C. Taylor, John D. and Anabeth Weil, Gary C. Werths and one anonymous donor. The success of the campaign's leadership phase allowed the Museum to set a formal goal of $145 million for the public phase.
We want to thank all of our donors. Gifts at all levels are important for this historic effort for the future of the Museum.
The project is supported in part through the sale of tax-exempt bonds. The Museum received an institutional rating of Aa3 from Moody's Investor Service Inc., and long-term debt ratings of "A1" from Moody's and "A+" from Standard & Poor's Rating Services, based on the strength of its leadership, the stability of its operations and financial support of the project from the community.
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Who is building the project?
Tarlton/Pepper/KAI, through a joint venture, is the general contractor for the Museum's expansion project. St. Louis-based Tarlton Corp. is one of the largest privately held firms in St. Louis. KAI Design & Build is based in St. Louis, as well. And Pepper Construction Group is based in Chicago. To learn more about the project, please visit Tarlton Corp.'s website.
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How was the architect selected?
An Advisory Committee began a search for an architect in October 2004 following its appointment by the Museum's Board of Commissioners. The members met regularly over 10 months, considered more than 100 qualified candidates, traveled widely to look at other significant museum expansions, and interviewed potential candidates. After this extensive process, the committee unanimously recommended David Chipperfield.
London-based David Chipperfield Architects (DCA) has won some of Europe's most prestigious commissions, including the restoration of the Neues Museum and master plan for Museum Island in Berlin; the America's Cup Pavilion in Valencia, Spain; the Museum of Modern Literature in Marbach, Germany; and the extension of Venice's historic San Michele cemetery island. Chipperfield's U.S. projects include the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa; the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center; and the Des Moines Central Library.
You can read more about David Chipperfield by visiting this website.
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London-based David Chipperfield Architects (DCA) has won some of Europe's most prestigious commissions, including the restoration of the Neues Museum and master plan for Museum Island in Berlin; the America's Cup Pavilion in Valencia, Spain; the Museum of Modern Literature in Marbach, Germany; and the extension of Venice's historic San Michele cemetery island. Chipperfield's U.S. projects include the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa; the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center; and the Des Moines Central Library.
You can read more about David Chipperfield by visiting this website.
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Who was selected to design the expansion's landscape features?
Michel Desvigne was appointed as landscape architect in December 2006. Based in Paris, Desvigne was the recipient of the Medal of the French Academy of Architecture (2000) and has taught at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. He has worked with such internationally recognized architects as Sir Norman Foster, Herzog and de Meuron, Jean Nouvel, O.M.A. (Rem Koolhaas), Bernard Tschumi, I.M. Pei, Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers.
Desvigne's projects include Millennium Park in London's Greenwich Peninsula, several modern art Museums' gardens – Utrecht (Netherlands), Antwerp (Belgium), and Parc Drai (Luxembourg) – and more recently a project at the Keio University in Tokyo. Desvigne's projects in the U.S. include the Dallas Centre for Performing Arts and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.
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Desvigne's projects include Millennium Park in London's Greenwich Peninsula, several modern art Museums' gardens – Utrecht (Netherlands), Antwerp (Belgium), and Parc Drai (Luxembourg) – and more recently a project at the Keio University in Tokyo. Desvigne's projects in the U.S. include the Dallas Centre for Performing Arts and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.
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What is the impact of the Museum's plan on Forest Park?
The design for the Museum's expansion falls within the parameters of the Museum's 1997 lease with the City of St. Louis and conforms with the Master Plan for Forest Park. For more information about the Museum's lease, click here. For the Forest Park Master Plan, click here.
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Will the new building be Green? Are there plans for it to be LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)?
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED certification indicates that a project has met set standards for environmentally sustainable construction. The expansion project was designed in accordance with these standards and the Museum will seek LEED certification for the project on completion.
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Will minority contractors participate in this project? Will this project create jobs for St. Louis?
The Museum plans to exceed the Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) guidelines as incorporated in the Museum's lease. The two-year construction project will involve all building trades and 24 different crafts generating an estimated 200 jobs. Upon reopening, the Museum plans to add 25 new full-time employees to serve its visitors and maintain the expanded facility.
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When was the expansion first envisioned?
The Museum expansion was envisioned in the 1995 Forest Park Master Plan and the Art Museum's 2000 Strategic Plan. Both were developed with substantial community input.
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Will parking be adequate?
The expansion will include space for approximately 300 cars, in a below-grade parking structure—more than doubling the parking capacity of the prior paved and gravel lots combined. The garage will also be available after hours for Forest Park events, by arrangement. While there will be a charge for garage parking, free public parking will be available in the two public lots located in front of the Museum off Fine Arts Drive.
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Where can I find additional information?
Please visit us. The expansion model is on display in Sculpture Hall. We also welcome your questions and comments. Please send us an email at expansioninfo@slam.org.
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