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New Arrival

METROPOLIS Experiencing the new brody square

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum holds fundraising gala

November 2011 www.metropolismag.com

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By Lisa Mulcrone

The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at MSU will enable the university to increase the visibility and accessibility of art both for education and outreach.

The construction site of MSU’s Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum is clearly beginning to take on the “Z” shape of the innovative building design by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid. Looking at the construction site on Grand River next to Berkey Hall, one can clearly see the foundation and the start of walls for what will be a worldclass museum.

“It is very exciting to see such progress on the Broad Art Museum,” Hadid said. “Another of our The facility is named in honor of Eli and Edythe art museum projects, the new MAXXI Museum Broad, longtime supporters of the university in Rome, opened this summer and has been who provided the lead gift for the museum. The extremely well received. What is also exciting is Broads’ gift of $28 million, with $21 million that the local community is coming together and designated for construction of the building and using the museum like a new Roman piazza. It $7 million to be used for acquisitions, exhibitions has become a meeting place for everyone, like a and operations, was the catalyst for the project. village square, each afternoon. It is no longer just Additional fundraising for construction has a museum, but part of the urbanism of Rome. I raised nearly $34 million of the $40 million goal look forward to the Broad Art Museum serving for the building. everyone in the community at Michigan State in “This is an exciting project for many MSU alumni the same way.” and friends of the university, not only in midDuring the summer, contractors completed Michigan but around the world,” said Robert work associated with building excavation, which Groves, vice president of University Advancement. included earth retention, de-watering wells and “We have seen increased interest in the project utility relocations and rough-ins. Steam tunnel since the groundbreaking, and we’re optimistic and other infrastructure improvements also that we can complete the fundraising before the began. The building foundation and exterior building opens in a little less than two years.” walls were completed as well as interior concrete walls in the lower level. The foundation The museum, which broke ground on March waterproofing and backfilling is currently under 16, is expected to open in the spring of 2012 way and contractors have begun working on and is on schedule and within budget. When completed, it will feature more than 70 percent first-level structural concrete. gallery space and room for large art works to be As progress continues with the construction, the displayed. The primary focus of the museum will search for the founding director of the Broad be contemporary art.

Museum is also moving forward. Following a national search, selected candidates will be Michigan State University has been advancing visiting campus in early November to present knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach their ideas and to be interviewed further. for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum Building a world-class museum at MSU

By Julie VerHage

The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum is the art museum of Michigan State University. Also an engaged public institution, The Broad is a contemporary museum devoted to the art of our time. Expressly dedicated to exploring contemporary culture and ideas through the probing gaze of artists, The Broad is a place where artists’ ideas, words, and actions create a vibrant center for questioning and understanding the modern world.

Dedicated to experimentation and study, The Broad is a laboratory for the new, grounded in a deep appreciation for the historical. With a historic collection containing objects from the Greek and Roman periods, through the Renaissance, and on to the Modern, The Broad is unique among contemporary art museums in its ability to frame the broad range of contemporary art practices within a firm historical context.

During the summer, contractors completed work associated with building excavation, which included earth retention, de-watering wells and utility relocations and rough-ins. Steam tunnel and other infrastructure improvements also began. The building foundation and exterior walls were completed as well as interior concrete walls in the lower level. The foundation waterproofing and backfilling is currently under way and contractors have begun working on first-level structural concrete.

As progress continues with the construction, the search for the founding director of the Broad Museum is also moving forward. Following a national search, selected candidates will be visiting campus in early November to present their ideas and to be interviewed further.