In the intervening months, the museum’s collections staff will undertake the arduous task of packing the more than 12,000 works of art and moving them out of the building in the heart of the UO campus. When construction is completed and the collection reinstalled, the museum will re-open to the public in the spring of 2003.

"It is important to remind our visitors and patrons that during the closure of the building, the museum will continue to operate as a museum," says Director Del Hawkins. "Selected artworks from our collections will be loaned temporarily to other museums for public display, and our public programming and educational outreach activities will continue and expand."

In addition, the Yokohama Doll Museum in Yokohama, Japan, will temporarily display the Japanese Friendship Doll, Miss Fukuoka.

During the building closure, Hawkins says the public can expect continuing programming, including lectures, films and social events at off-site locations. For example, the museum is planning a field trip to Portland to visit the Portland Art Museum and the Chinese Garden. Information about other public activities will be announced later.

The museum’s education department also will expand its current outreach activities. Staff and volunteer docents will conduct outreach visits to K-12 schools, colleges and universities, as well as to community groups throughout Oregon. They will give lectures and slide presentations, and facilitate art activities. In addition, the education staff will hold teacher-training sessions for K-12 teachers, training them on how to use the museum’s collections and educational resources to enhance their classroom curricula.

"Our goal is to keep the museum in the minds of the public," Hawkins says.

Construction of a new wing will include additional galleries, a new education suite with an auditorium and conference/classroom areas, a new secure storage vault, an expanded museum store, a café, administrative offices, and a new receiving and loading dock.

Renovation of the existing building will include updating the electrical and lighting systems, installing a new heating-ventilation-and-air conditioning system to control the interior climate, refurbishing and expanding exhibition preparation areas, and cosmetic updating in the galleries and public spaces. The project also will improve accessibility for all visitors.

Altogether, the project will add 38,290 gross square feet to the existing 24,890-square-foot building at 1430 Johnson Lane. The western façade will be preserved while the 1932 building will be modernized to keep pace with contemporary museum practices and to provide a safe environment for visitors and art collections alike.

The architectural team for the project consists of Hammond Beeby Rupert Ainge, Inc., (HBRA) of Chicago and Portland’s SRG Partnership, which has an outstanding portfolio of works involving campus plans and buildings.

Thomas Beeby, former dean of the Yale School of Architecture, heads the HBRA team. His groups have designed additions for such buildings as the Rice University library and the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago.

Jon Schleuning, who brings more than 35 years of experience to the project, heads the SRG team. His firm has recently handled such projects as the University of California-Berkeley College of Chemistry and the Oregon State University master plan and library.

Founded in 1921, the UO Museum of Art opened its doors in 1932. It is accredited by the American Association of Museums.

For the latest information about ongoing UO Museum of Art programs during the building closure, browse http://uoma.uoregon.edu or call (541) 346-3027.

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