20 Feb 2019
Blanton Museum of Art to undergo US$20m exterior renovation
BY Luke Cloherty
Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, USA, is to be renovated with a full exterior redesign and work on outdoor spaces to make them more versatile for public programming.
Architects Snohetta have been appointed to create the masterplan for the works, which will also include aligning the building with adjacent downtown properties and the Texas Capitol Complex.
A US$20m (€17.7m, £15.6m) gift from the Moody Foundation of Galveston to the museum, which is based at the University of Texas, will fund the project.
The refurbishment announcement comes just a year after the installation of Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin, a major artwork showcased on the University of Texas’ grounds outside the museum’s Michener Gallery and Edgar A Smith buildings.
"This refurbishment will further Blanton Museum of Art’s position as an Austin landmark and a vibrant cultural anchor for our community," said Blanton Museum of Art director Simone Wicha.
"Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin has already accelerated the Blanton Museum of Art’s evolution into an international arts destination."
The Snoheatta master plan will also include the creation of a pedestrian mall on Austin’s Congress Avenue, between 16th Street and Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard.
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