By: Deborah Johnson Wood
A public ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new $60 million Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) takes place on the museum steps at 5 PM tonight. At 10 AM tomorrow, October 5, the world's first LEED certified art museum opens its doors to the public.
Construction on the $60 million structure began three years ago, and the result is the city's first building designed specifically for the display of fine art.
The 125,000-square-foot building has three levels of gallery and community space, and two levels below ground for offices, storage, and maintenance. Visitors will delight in the natural light that fills the building, a museum store, cafeteria, and a courtyard with a water wall.
"I think the first thing people will notice is the breathtaking design of the building," says Brian Burch, GRAM spokesperson. "I think they'll be taken aback by a building this incredible that's meant for the public."
A new exhibit of Chris Van Allsburg's illustrations features 77 drawings from his personal collection. Van Allsburg, a Grand Rapids native, wrote and illustrated such favorites as Jumanji and The Polar Express.
An exhibit by wHY Architecture, designers of the GRAM, explores sustainable design and the GRAM's LEED-driven construction.
The bulk of the museum's collection dates from Renaissance to Modern art, and includes works by Alexander Calder, Stuart Davis, and Rembrandt.
The new Friday Nights at GRAM begins tomorrow evening at 5 PM. Christopher Carter will lecture on his work Totemic Poles, 2002, and The Jim Cooper Quartet will perform live jazz on the second floor balcony.
Kulapat Yantrasast designed the building. Rockford/Pepper was the construction manager. Design Plus was the on-site architect.
Source: Brian Burch, Lambert Edwards & Associates
Photograph by Brian Kelly
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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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