The new Alexandria Museum of Art is a testament of community pride and > ambition. From the beginning of the 5.6 million dollar capital drive, through > the design and construction phase, this project is an example of a small > community's commitment to establish a public gathering place for the > preservation and presentation of art. > > The museum architect for the new Museum of Art is Joe Brocato, Sr., FAIA, of > Barron, Heinberg and Brocato. Mr. Brocato, in association with the Museum's > Executive Director, Mark Tullos, Jr., spent two years in the study of the > Museum's programs and vision for the new facility. "The building design is > about the enjoyment of the quality of light and space as it relates to the > individual experiencing the building," Brocato said. While this was the first > time Brocato has designed a Museum of Art, he has had extensive experience in > the design of major public facilities including: Louisiana State University, > College of Design in Baton Rouge, LA and Louisiana College "Black Box" Martin > Theater in Pineville, LA. Tullos had overseen the design and construction of > two other Southern Museums: the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean > Springs, Mississippi and the Museum of East Texas in Lufkin, Texas. The new > museum's design is a consummate example of harmony between aesthetics and > function. > > The Museum of Art has been in existence since 1977 and was housed in the > historic Rapides Bank and Trust building c. 1898. In 1995 the Board of > Trustees of the Alexandria Museum of Art acquired the adjacent properties to > the historic building. The Bank building was the only structure that was > preserved in the construction project. Other structures were removed to make > way for expanded museum facilities. > > The entrance plaza of the Museum of Art is designed in a parquet pattern of > concrete and brick. Every square foot of the exterior property, with the > exception of gardens and planting areas, hosts this pattern. The Main entrance > of the facility faces the west and the city's new $14 million Riverfront > Convention Center. The monumental entranceway of the Museum is graced by four > 24" brushed aluminum columns that support an overlook gallery clad in the same > material. The exterior of the new Museum is a combination of black brick, > glazed black tile accents, glass, brushed aluminum and black granite from Cold > Springs, Minnesota. The roof of the 55 foot, three-story structure is crowned > with a glass pyramid that serves as a beacon on the Alexandria Riverfront and > focal point for the downtown skyline. Overall, the presence of the Museum of > Art is a centerpiece to surrounding properties including the historic Hotel > Bentley, Alexandria City Hall, the Riverfront amphitheater and the Riverfront > Convention Center. > > Each floor of the new Museum is designed around a specific aspect of the > Museum's mission. The first floor is primarily composed of areas designated > for visitor's services (e.g. Reception/information desk, rest rooms, cafe and > kitchen, multimedia auditorium and the Museum Store). There are also two > galleries on the first floor located in the historic bank structure, the > children's Pyramid Gallery and the community gallery. > > The second floor is exclusively designed for collections, administration and > education. This floor includes all art conservation spaces and collection > storage, administrative and office space, and the education classroom and > Museum Art Library. > > Visitors will discover beautiful exhibition spaces on the third floor. This > level, dedicated to exhibitions, hosts four galleries. Three of the galleries > are flooded with indirect, natural light pouring from the pyramid skylight. A > view of the Riverfront and downtown Alexandria sets the backdrop for the Jane > Wilson Smith Gallery that contains a changing collection of sculpture. > > While the 21,000 square foot facility is small, in comparison to many larger > institutions in major metropolitan areas, the new Alexandria Museum of Art is > a unique public gathering place for a community of 100,000. The needs met by > this new facility include: improved public accessibility in all areas by > meeting federal accessibility laws; the addition of new and improved areas for > generating earned income for museum operations; providing expanded and > improved public gathering areas that will work in unison with the city's new > Convention Center; providing adequate and safe areas for collection storage > and maintenance that meet accreditation standards of the American Association > of Museums. AMoA holds 1,305 works of art in public trust. AMoA borrows > approximately 1,200 objects from private and public collections each year. > > Museum Trustees feel that the Museum, in partnership with the new exhibition > center and local hotels will, in the future, offer a rich and diverse array of > activity for out-of-town visitors. "The new Alexandria Museum of Art will not > only be a place for family, fun and learning, but a marvelous symbol of our > community's pride and ambition," says Tullos. > END > Editor's Note: Please see enclosed Tour Map. You may contact the Museum > Architect at the following number:(318)443-7291. AMoA will provide interior > photographs of the new Museum of Art upon request. > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: > Contact:Mark Tullos > Museum Director > Alexandria Museum of Art > PO Box 1028 > Alexandria, LA 71309-1028 > (318) 443-3458 > > > > > > > > Architecture > > The new Alexandria Museum of Art is a testament of community pride and > ambition. The Museum is located at 933 Main Street in downtown Alexandria. > Hours are Tue-Fri from 10 - 5. and Sat and Sun 1-5. Admission is $3.00 Adults > and $1.00 children, free to Museum Members. For more information call the > Museum > Call Center at 318-443-3458 and choose the menu option for current > exhibitions. Or, visit the Museum web site at www.themuseum.org. > > >From the beginning of the 5.6 million dollar capital drive, through the design > and construction phase, this project is an example of a small community's > commitment to establish a public gathering place for the preservation and > presentation of art. > > The museum architect for the new Museum of Art is Joe Brocato, Sr., FAIA, of > Barron, Heinberg and Brocato. Mr. Brocato, in association with the Museum's > Executive Director, Mark Tullos, Jr., spent two years in the study of the > Museum's programs and vision for the new facility. "The building design is > about the enjoyment of the quality of light and space as it relates to the > individual experiencing the building," Brocato said. While this was the first > time Brocato has designed a Museum of Art, he has had extensive experience in > the design of major public facilities including: Louisiana State University, > College of Design in Baton Rouge, LA and Louisiana College "Black Box" Martin > Theater in Pineville, LA. Tullos had overseen the design and construction of > two other Southern Museums: the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean > Springs, Mississippi and the Museum of East Texas in Lufkin, Texas. The new > museum's design is a consummate example of harmony between aesthetics and > function. > > The Museum of Art has been in existence since 1977 and was housed in the > historic Rapides Bank and Trust building c. 1898. In 1995 the Board of > Trustees of the Alexandria Museum of Art acquired the adjacent properties to > the historic building. The Bank building was the only structure that was > preserved in the construction project. Other structures were removed to make > way for expanded museum facilities. > > The entrance plaza of the Museum of Art is designed in a parquet pattern of > concrete and brick. Every square foot of the exterior property, with the > exception of gardens and planting areas, hosts this pattern. The Main entrance > of the facility faces the west and the city's new $14 million Riverfront > Convention Center. The monumental entranceway of the Museum is graced by four > 24" brushed aluminum columns that support an overlook gallery clad in the same > material. The exterior of the new Museum is a combination of black brick, > glazed black tile accents, glass, brushed aluminum and black granite from Cold > Springs, Minnesota. The roof of the 55 foot, three-story structure is crowned > with a glass pyramid that serves as a beacon on the Alexandria Riverfront and > focal point for the downtown skyline. Overall, the presence of the Museum of > Art is a centerpiece to surrounding properties including the historic Hotel > Bentley, Alexandria City Hall, the Riverfront amphitheater and the Riverfront > Convention Center. > > Each floor of the new Museum is designed around a specific aspect of the > Museum's mission. The first floor is primarily composed of areas designated > for visitor's services (e.g. Reception/information desk, rest rooms, cafe and > kitchen, multimedia auditorium and the Museum Store). There are also two > galleries on the first floor located in the historic bank structure, the > children's Pyramid Gallery and the community gallery. > > The second floor is exclusively designed for collections, administration and > education. This floor includes all art conservation spaces and collection > storage, administrative and office space, and the education classroom and > Museum Art Library. > > Visitors will discover beautiful exhibition spaces on the third floor. This > level, dedicated to exhibitions, hosts four galleries. Three of the galleries > are flooded with indirect, natural light pouring from the pyramid skylight. A > view of the Riverfront and downtown Alexandria sets the backdrop for the Jane > Wilson Smith Gallery that contains a changing collection of sculpture. > > While the 21,000 square foot facility is small, in comparison to many larger > institutions in major metropolitan areas, the new Alexandria Museum of Art is > a unique public gathering place for a community of 100,000. The needs met by > this new facility include: improved public accessibility in all areas by > meeting federal accessibility laws; the addition of new and improved areas for > generating earned income for museum operations; providing expanded and > improved public gathering areas that will work in unison with the city's new > Convention Center; providing adequate and safe areas for collection storage > and maintenance that meet accreditation standards of the American Association > of Museums. AMoA holds 1,305 works of art in public trust. AMoA borrows > approximately 1,200 objects from private and public collections each year. > > Museum Trustees feel that the Museum, in partnership with the new exhibition > center and local hotels will, in the future, offer a rich and diverse array of > activity for out-of-town visitors. "The new Alexandria Museum of Art will not > only be a place for family, fun and learning, but a marvelous symbol of our > community's pride and ambition," says Tullos. > END > Editor's Note: Please see enclosed Tour Map. You may contact the Museum > Architect at the following number:(318)443-7291. AMoA will provide interior > photographs of the new Museum of Art upon request. >