The University of Iowa recently completed its new Stanley Museum of Art, a public teaching museum designed by BNIM. The 63,000-square-foot building restores an art museum to the campus after 14 years, following historic flooding in 2008. The Stanley Museum of Art reunites the school with its renowned collections and works, such as Jackson Pollock’s Mural, which had been temporarily held by art institutions around the world.
The University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art is a public museum for discovering and teaching art, as well as a center for campus connection. The building features a transparent main lobby and a new entry plaza for art displays, performances, social gatherings, and classes. A series of flexible gallery spaces offers students, faculty, and visitors space for observing, discussing, and exploring the collections. The galleries’ proportions allow for faculty to curate collections for teaching and research and for students to learn about curating, which is central to the museum’s mission.
The museum’s upper floors include a visual arts laboratory classroom where the collections can be used for teaching. Collaborative staff and volunteer spaces also support the research and teaching of the collections.
A dark, kinetic brick facade, with alternating brick texture and brick finish, reflects the changing sunlight. The lobby’s glass facade and a series of interconnected voids throughout the building establish connections to natural light and guide the visitor experience. Outdoor terraces also serve as spaces for socializing and school visits.
On the Building Team:
Owner: The University of Iowa
Design architect: BNIM
Architect of record: BNIM
MEP engineer: Design Engineers
Structural engineer: Meyer Borgman Johnson
General contractor/construction manager: Russell Construction
Related Stories
| Jun 28, 2013
Building owners cite BIM/VDC as 'most exciting trend' in facilities management, says Mortenson report
A recent survey of more than 60 building owners and facility management professionals by Mortenson Construction shows that BIM/VDC is top of mind among owner professionals.
| Jun 25, 2013
Mirvish, Gehry revise plans for triad of Toronto towers
A trio of mixed-use towers planned for an urban redevelopment project in Toronto has been redesigned by planners David Mirvish and Frank Gehry. The plan was announced last October but has recently been substantially revised.
| Jun 25, 2013
DC commission approves Gehry's redesign for Eisenhower memorial
Frank Gehry's updated for a new Dwight D. Eisenhower memorial in Washington, D.C., has been approved by the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, reports the Washington Post. The commission voted unanimously to approve the $110 million project, which has been gestating for 14 years.
| Jun 5, 2013
USGBC: Free LEED certification for projects in new markets
In an effort to accelerate sustainable development around the world, the U.S. Green Building Council is offering free LEED certification to the first projects to certify in the 112 countries where LEED has yet to take root.
| Jun 3, 2013
Construction spending inches upward in April
The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that construction spending during April 2013 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $860.8 billion, 0.4 percent above the revised March estimate of $857.7 billion.
| May 21, 2013
7 tile trends for 2013: Touch-sensitive glazes, metallic tones among top styles
Tile of Spain consultant and ceramic tile expert Ryan Fasan presented his "What's Trending in Tile" roundup at the Coverings 2013 show in Atlanta earlier this month. Here's an overview of Fasan's emerging tile trends for 2013.
| May 2, 2013
First look: UC-Davis art museum by SO-IL and Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
The University of California, Davis has selected emerging New York-based practice SO-IL to design a new campus’ art museum, which is envisioned to be a “regional center of experimentation, participation and learning.”
| Apr 30, 2013
Tips for designing with fire rated glass - AIA/CES course
Kate Steel of Steel Consulting Services offers tips and advice for choosing the correct code-compliant glazing product for every fire-rated application. This BD+C University class is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.
| Apr 26, 2013
Documentary shows 'starchitects' competing for museum project
"The Competition," a new documentary produced by Angel Borrego Cuberto of Madrid, focuses on the efforts of five 'starchitects' to capture the design contract for the new National Museum of Art of Andorra: a small country in the Pyrenees between Spain and France.
| Apr 24, 2013
Los Angeles may add cool roofs to its building code
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants cool roofs added to the city’s building code. He is also asking the Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to create incentives that make it financially attractive for homeowners to install cool roofs.