Museum News

Art in America, June, 2001 by Stephanie Cash, Ebony David

The UCLA Hammer Museum has announced a $25-million redesign of its building at the corner of Wilshire and Westwood Blvds. The project is a collaboration of LA.-based architect Michael Maltzan, Toronto-based graphic designer Bruce Mau and Amsterdam-based landscape and interior designer Pelto Blatue. Mau has been working over the past year with director Ann Philbin to develop a new "identify program" for the museum. The remodeled building will feature expanded exhibition areas, including a new gallery devoted to works on paper, a theater, a new restaurant and an enlarged bookstore. Construction is scheduled to be completed in early 2003.

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, recently announced that it has selected the New York architecture firm Diller Scofidio to design its new building, scheduled to open in 2004. The firm beat out other shortlisted architects, Office dA of Boston, Iceland's Studio Granda and Peter Zumthor of Switzerland. The new 60,000-square-foot museum, to be located on Boston's Fan Pier, includes exhibition areas, education facilities, a theater, a media and technology center, bookstore, gift shop and restaurant. The ICA also plans to initiate a permanent collection. According to museum director Jill Medvedow, acquisitions will be closely tied to the ICA's exhibition program and will focus on the 21st century.