GAINESVILLE, Fla.- April 2, 2009 —The Harn Museum of Art is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony April 9 at 4 p.m. to mark the beginning of the construction of a 25,000-square-foot Asian art wing. The addition is the Harn’s largest building project since the museum opened in 1990.
The ceremony will feature remarks from University of Florida President Bernie Machen and Harn Museum Director Rebecca Nagy.
Following the groundbreaking, there will be a reception in the Camellia Court Café. The event is by invitation-only.
“We are thoughtfully and excitedly embarking upon this construction with the museum’s mission in mind,” said Rebecca Nagy, Harn Museum of Art director. “The Asian wing will expand the museum’s abilities to provide visitors with enriching experiences and advance the already strong connections with the academic mission of the University of Florida.”
Once complete, the addition will house Asian art galleries, an upper level for curatorial and museum activities, and art storage and conservation space for the museum’s Asian collection, which is comprised of 1,300 works of art. An Asian garden will be accessible from the west side of the new wing.
The wing will be completed in the Fall of 2010. It is scheduled to open to the public in Spring of 2011.
Designed by Kha Le-Huu & Partners of Orlando, Fla., the addition will be submitted to the U.S. Green Building Council for consideration for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certification. The construction management firm for the project is P.P.I. Construction Management.
The addition is funded in part by a generous $10 million gift to the University of Florida from Dr. and Mrs. David A. Cofrin. The gift is part of the University of Florida’s Florida Tomorrow capital campaign.
For more information about the addition, call 352-392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu.
Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art
The Harn Museum of Art at SW 34th St. and Hull Rd. is one of the largest university art museums in the country with nearly 7,000 works in its collection focusing on African, Asian, modern and contemporary art and photography. The museum enhances the activities of the University of Florida and serves a culturally diverse audience through educational programming. Admission is free. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Parking is free on weekends. The Camellia Court Café is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information call 352-392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu.
Media contacts:
Tami Wroath, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
352.392.9826 x116
twroath@harn.ufl.edu
