On January 21, 1997, the Texas State Preservation Board announced the
hiring of E. Verner Johnson & Associates teamed with Gerard Hilferty &
Associates to prepare a programming and conceptual analysis for a
proposed Texas History Museum.  The Johnson/Hilferty team was selected
from 22 respondents from around the nation to a December Request for
Qualifications (RFQ).  From the respondents, six firms/teams were
requested to submit a formal proposal.

As stated in the RFQ, the consultant's task is to "clearly define the
need, mission, and scope of the museum, as well as develop a financial
self-sufficiency analysis, concepts for the permanent exhibit, and a
proposed budget."  Scheduled for completion by April 1, 1997, the
consultant's analysis will be presented to the Texas Legislature as the
basis for enabling legislation and appropriations.

If the Legislature approves and funds the project, an
architectural/engineering firm would be hired to begin design in June
1997.  Services would include comprehensive programming, institutional
planning, operations planning, conceptual architectural design, and
exhibit design.  Under the proposed time line, construction documents
would be completed by January 1998, construction would begin in March
1998, and the museum would open to the public in January 2000.

Jack Nokes
Executive Director
Texas Association of Museums
Austin, Texas
512/328-6812
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