College officials are calling the recently-approved renovation plan for the Walker Art Building a much-needed compromise between those who wanted to preserve the building and those who advocated for the museum's renovation. The building is home to the Bowdoin College Museum of Art.
"I think [the approved renovation plan] is a fine solution. Many of those who didn't agree with the earlier design fully understood the need for the building to be renovated?they just didn't like the entrance solution we first proposed," said Vice President for Planning and Institutional Advancement Scott Meiklejohn.
The renovation will maintain the facade of the building, while adding much-needed improvements to the interior of the building and constructing a pavilion at the south side of the building.
The $20 million plans were approved by the trustees and first reported by the Orient last week. The approval made news throughout New England over the weekend. The design is the result of 15 years of planning and includes the consideration of designs from three different architects.
"The current design by [architect] Silvetti clearly provides us with a simple, elegant solution to this very complicated project," said Senior Vice President for Planning & Administration and Chief Development Officer Bill Torrey.
The architects worked closely with museum staff to incorporate the input into the final renovation plans.
"We are therefore pleased with the plans and the ways in which our various needs and concerns have been met," the museum's staff said in a joint statement to the Orient.
Associate Professor of Philosophy and Environmental Studies Larry Simon also agreed that the plans seem to be a good compromise.
"The crucial part of the entire project is to make the inside more accessible and functional and thus to enhance the museum's capacity to serve the educational needs of the College and the interests of the public," said Simon.
"I am glad the plan does not [call] for changing the front of the building," said Melissa Hayden '05.
"What is most essential for people to understand, however, is that many of the changes will be to those spaces that are 'behind the scenes,'" the museum staff's statement said.
Most of the improvements will be made to the interior of the building. Climate control will be added to better conserve the artworks and larger gallery spaces will be put in place to accommodate more artwork and visitors to art exhibitions.
The renovation is also designed to improve the classroom space and bring the building up to 21st-century standards.
The current building is not very accessible for individuals with disabilities.
"Right now those who cannot walk up the stairs have to enter the museum from the service entrance, which is not only embarrassing but is simply unacceptable," the statement said.
The renovations will correct this inconvenience and bring the building in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"It is important in making the building handicapped accessible," Hayden said.
The College must also deal with the complications of closing the building and moving the art in the Museum.
"There is always some inconvenience to closing a building during renovations. We will be doing our best to make the collection accessible for teaching and learning during the down time," said Meiklejohn.
The Museum staff will remain in their offices in the building until the summer. They will then move to Bannister Hall.
The downstairs galleries, the rotunda (which houses the gift shop), the exhibition of ancient art, and the Homer Seminar room will remain open through the end of the academic year.
The Museum will completely close in June.
"The College will gain some important visibility by having parts of the collection displayed in prominent museums around the country while renovations are taking place," said Meiklejohn.
The College will move certain objects to the Portland Museum of Art and the Colby College Art Museum. The College is placing much of the art in storage in Boston. The ancient art will move to the Susan Dwight Library in Hubbard Hall by the end of the Spring vacation.
At the museum's closing, paper-based works move to Bannister.
"In the 210 year history of the College, the brief closing period is of course worth it," said Meiklejohn.
"The closing of the museum is a temporary nuisance, while the renovations will be long-lasting and will transform the Bowdoin College Museum of Art into an institution much better equipped to serve the needs of the college as well as the public," said the museum's statement.
"When it is reopened it will be one of the finest college museums in the country," said Torrey.