On December 23, 2015, the San Diego Union Tribune (
visit link) ran the following story:
"MINGEI MUSEUM PLANS $15M ‘TRANSFORMATION' ART...
| midnight Dec. 23, 2015 | Updated, 8:05 a.m.
ARTS
Mingei museum plans $15M ‘transformation'
The Mingei International Museum has hired LUCE et Studio Architects of La Jolla to design and implement "a comprehensive transformation" of the Balboa Park institution.
The project, expected to cost roughly $15 million, will renovate the galleries, expand space for community programs, forge a more welcoming connection with the newly opened Plaza de Panama, and better integrate the Cafe Mingei and the museum's store with the museum.
"This selection is the culmination of a precise review process, which included proposals from local and national firms," Mingei Director Rob Sidner said in a statement. "We strongly believe Jennifer (Luce) and her team are the right partners for this significant project. We admire their work, respect their approach, and know that we have found a team with which we are already building the kind of trust and dialogue essential in a collaboration of this scale."
The administrative, research and storage areas will also be reconfigured, with special attention paid to sustainability. Construction could begin as early as 2017, with the museum closing for approximately six months. During that period, it expects to offer public programs in other locations in the community.
"We're thrilled to embark on this project with LUCE et Studio," Courtenay McGowen, chair of Mingei's board of trustees, said in a statement. "This work will allow us to hone our professional standards, and share the museum's mission with a growing local and global audience..."
LUCE et Studio Architects has done projects with Nissan Design America, KPBS, Coalesse Steelcase and Disney Imagineering; the Mingei will be the firm's first museum renovation.
"There is no other museum like Mingei," said Jennifer Luce, the firm's principal architect. "It is one that eloquently describes the story of cultures through its collection and focus on ‘objects of use' and ‘art of the people.'
"Mingei's stewardship is strong and forward thinking, not to mention fascinating. We are eager to create new public and gallery spaces to allow the museum to share more of their remarkable mission with everyone."
jim.chute@sduniontribune.com"