【時報訊】位於森林公園之聖路易藝術博物館，耗資一億三千萬元之擴建工程，於1月19日下午三時舉行破土動工典禮。聖路易市長、郡長，擴建工程設計David Chipperfreld, John Weil，藝博館館長Brent Benjamin及藝博館募款主席及委員們等相關人員都出席這項盛會。
聖路易藝博館擴建工程原本應於2008年底開始進行，受到2009年之經濟衰退影響，這項工程延遲了一年。
12月14日藝博館委員會在聖路易市政府同意，發行4千5百萬元之免稅債券，經援這項擴建工程後投票表決，決定加翼擴建工程可以開始動工，工程其他所需款則將由私人募款及基金會贊助等方式籌集。
聖路易藝博館擴建工程包括現有建築二萬平方呎之整建及七萬七千呎之加翼工程和新的停車場工程。整個工程預計二年完成，在此期間，藝博館將會有不同展館開放日期變更及展品變動之安排。
Saint Louis Art Museum sets groundbreaking for $130M Expansion
The Saint Louis Art Museum has scheduled a ceremonial groundbreaking Jan. 19 for its planned $130.5 million expansion in Forest Park.
A press conference is set for 2 p.m. Jan. 19 in the museum's Sculpture Hall, where Director Brent Benjamin is expected to be joined by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, expansion architect David Chipperfield, and John Weil, president of the museum's Board of Commissioners and chair of the museum's capital campaign.
The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to follow at 3 p.m. Jan. 19.
The museum announced in mid-December that, following a yearlong delay, construction on the planned expansion would start within weeks.
The project was originally slated to begin in late 2008, but the down economy forced museum officials to put off the groundbreaking.
The museum's Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 14 to go ahead with the wing addition, after the city of St. Louis' Industrial Development Authority approved the issuance of $45 million in tax-exempt bonds to finance a portion of the expansion. The remaining project cost is being funded through private donations and foundation support.
The project includes the renovation of 20,000 square feet of space in the existing structure and a 77,000-square-foot addition and a new parking garage.
Construction is expected to last two years, and in announcing the groundbreaking, the museum noted that it anticipates gallery closures and movement of art throughout the museum during the project. |
