Oscar Wells Memorial Building: Difference between revisions
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The '''Oscar Wells Memorial Building''' is the main building housing the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]] across [[Reverend Abraham Woods, Jr Boulevard]] ([[8th Avenue North]]) from [[Linn Park]]. It was constructed in [[1958]]-[[1959||59]] with funds left by [[Helen Wells|Helen Jacob Wells]], who died in [[1954]]. It was named in memory of her former husband, [[Oscar Wells]], a former president of the [[First National Bank of Birmingham]]. | The '''Oscar Wells Memorial Building''' is the main building housing the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]] across [[Reverend Abraham Woods, Jr Boulevard]] ([[8th Avenue North]]) from [[Linn Park]]. It was constructed in [[1958]]-[[1959||59]] with funds left by [[Helen Wells|Helen Jacob Wells]], who died in [[1954]]. It was named in memory of her former husband, [[Oscar Wells]], a former president of the [[First National Bank of Birmingham]]. | ||
The moderne-style travertine and green-marble clad building was designed by [[Warren, Knight & Davis]] architects. In [[1958]] ground was broken for the new building. Colonel [[William Rushton]] used a chrome-plated shovel while museum director [[Richard Foster Howard]] made use of an ancient wood agricultural implement from Egypt. The new building opened on [[May 3]], [[1959]]. A garden designed by [[William Kessler]] and planted by the [[Red Mountain Garden Club]] opened at the same time. | The moderne-style travertine and green-marble clad building was designed by [[Warren, Knight & Davis]] architects. In [[1958]] ground was broken for the new building. Colonel [[William Rushton]] used a chrome-plated shovel while museum director [[Richard Foster Howard]] made use of an ancient wood agricultural implement from Egypt. The new building opened at a cost of $1 million on [[May 3]], [[1959]]. A garden designed by [[William Kessler]] and planted by the [[Red Mountain Garden Club]] opened at the same time. | ||
The building was expanded in [[1965]] with the addition of upper-floor galleries to the west wing, followed by the furnishing of an art library the following year. By [[1966]] additional exhibit space was desperately wanted. The [[Hugh Kaul Galleries]], named for benefactor [[Hugh Kaul]], extended eastward from the original building. Additional property adjoining the museum site was acquired in [[1969]]. The east wing was rebuilt to provide an auditorium along with new office, storage and exhibit areas in [[1974]]. Renovations to that wing completed in [[1978]] added a conseration lab, loading dock and new public entrance. In [[1980]] another expansion brought the total square footage of exhibit space to 116,000 square feet, making Birmingham's museum the largest municipal art museum in the Southeast. | The building was expanded in [[1965]] with the addition of upper-floor galleries to the west wing, followed by the furnishing of an art library the following year. By [[1966]] additional exhibit space was desperately wanted. The [[Hugh Kaul Galleries]], named for benefactor [[Hugh Kaul]], extended eastward from the original building. Additional property adjoining the museum site was acquired in [[1969]]. The east wing was rebuilt to provide an auditorium along with new office, storage and exhibit areas in [[1974]]. Renovations to that wing completed in [[1978]] added a conseration lab, loading dock and new public entrance. In [[1980]] another expansion brought the total square footage of exhibit space to 116,000 square feet, making Birmingham's museum the largest municipal art museum in the Southeast. | ||
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* Huebner, Michael (August 21, 2011) "At 60, art museum is changing, expanding." {{BN}} | * Huebner, Michael (August 21, 2011) "At 60, art museum is changing, expanding." {{BN}} | ||
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[[Category:1959 buildings]] | [[Category:1959 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:1965 buildings]] | [[Category:1965 buildings]] | ||
Revision as of 16:14, 3 May 2015
The Oscar Wells Memorial Building is the main building housing the Birmingham Museum of Art across Reverend Abraham Woods, Jr Boulevard (8th Avenue North) from Linn Park. It was constructed in 1958-|59 with funds left by Helen Jacob Wells, who died in 1954. It was named in memory of her former husband, Oscar Wells, a former president of the First National Bank of Birmingham.
The moderne-style travertine and green-marble clad building was designed by Warren, Knight & Davis architects. In 1958 ground was broken for the new building. Colonel William Rushton used a chrome-plated shovel while museum director Richard Foster Howard made use of an ancient wood agricultural implement from Egypt. The new building opened at a cost of $1 million on May 3, 1959. A garden designed by William Kessler and planted by the Red Mountain Garden Club opened at the same time.
The building was expanded in 1965 with the addition of upper-floor galleries to the west wing, followed by the furnishing of an art library the following year. By 1966 additional exhibit space was desperately wanted. The Hugh Kaul Galleries, named for benefactor Hugh Kaul, extended eastward from the original building. Additional property adjoining the museum site was acquired in 1969. The east wing was rebuilt to provide an auditorium along with new office, storage and exhibit areas in 1974. Renovations to that wing completed in 1978 added a conseration lab, loading dock and new public entrance. In 1980 another expansion brought the total square footage of exhibit space to 116,000 square feet, making Birmingham's museum the largest municipal art museum in the Southeast.
The museum building was renovated and expanded in 1993 to designs by architect Edward Larrabee Barnes and KPS Group, bringing the exhibit area to 180,000 square feet, adding a gift shop and cafe as well as a signature curved, glass-enclosed stairway looking out on the new Charles W. Ireland Sculpture Garden designed by Barnes and sculptor Elyn Zimmerman. The original lobby space was enhanced with a permanent glass installation, "Birmingham Persian Wall" by Dale Chihuly.
References
- Birmingham Museum of Art. (1984) Handbook of the Collection. Birmingham: Birmingham Museum of Art. ISBN 0931394090
- Huebner, Michael (August 21, 2011) "At 60, art museum is changing, expanding." The Birmingham News