Perhaps I've missed a point somewhere in this thread, but I find nothing
startling about a museum embarking upon an expansion/capital campaign, even
during a turbulent economy.  LACMA is far from the only one doing so.  If my
recollection is accurate (always a chancy thing), I believe LACMA's current
"campus" was built from the ground up starting in 1965.  They do own one
historic building (the old May dept. store), but that site is some blocks
away from the proposed new construction.  I will say, having been involved
with over a dozen such projects, that in California the cost of
demolishing/rebuilding is often more cost-effective than a remodel.  This is
primarily due to stringent (deservedly so) and very expensive requirements
in respect to seismic retrofitting.  Please note I am not referring to
historic sites/buildings, where demolition should not be an option...

John Lamberson
Lamberson Consulting, LLC


>From: Sharon Buford <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Museum Board to Pick Architect for Overhaul
>Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 12:39:48 +0000
>
>> >Chris Taylor-Atchison County Historical Society (KS) Museum
>> >What exactly is the shocking part of this article?
>>
>>Chris,
>>
>>It is not the article but rather the comparison ... expensive overhaul
>>options could be considered,... at one museum while at the same time...
>>that other major museums be subjected to severe, if not
>>devastating,>financial cuts.
>>
>>Regards,
>>
>>Mr. Nicola Linza, Founder and Managing Director
>
>May I jump in?
>
>Where is the budgeting voming from to fund this "overhaul", where are the
>funds coming from in the Musuems whose budgets are being cut? Remember we
>live in a country where the weath disparity is enormous - this is across
>the
>board - private people and the ARTS. It is a fact of life.
>
>What I find disturbing, is the quote  ...
>
>Robert Ahmanson, a trustee whose family name is on one of the museum
>buildings that might be razed, ... [said] "I would not object to a scheme
>that involves tearing down [the Ahmanson Building]," he said. It might be
>"a
>matter of dollars and cents," he added, noting that starting anew can be
>cheaper than upgrading an old building.
>
>
>Apprently, he and no one else on the board have read the studies that show
>it is RARELY more affordable to demolish a builing and rebuild. My question
>is this. If the project is done WITHOUT state or federal $$ than Section
>106, does NOT come into play. Are any of these buildings HISTORIC, was
>there
>any consideration in the program for the Achitects to incorporate historic
>buildings, or were they told to start with a clean slate?
>
>I have never been to LA, and know nothing of the building that are there,
>but would be interested to know if any are historic???
>
>Sharon Buford
>Murray State Univ
>Grad Student - Public History
>
>
>
>
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