Director’s Tour to Feature Members of Green Building Alliance: Erie Art Museum is Going Green
Erie, PA, March 26, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Going Green seems to be the phrase of the day. But with a $9 million expansion and renovation project underway, it’s one the Erie Art Museum is not taking lightly.
The large-scale project, which broke ground May 8, 2009 and is scheduled to conclude in concision with a public opening on October 24, 2010, combines 10,000 square feet of new construction with a renovation of the existing historic building space. The entire project embodies a wide range of green practices and the building will achieve LEED certification at the silver level or higher—the first certified building in the city of Erie.
Planning and development of the expansion project, has led the Museum to embrace an institution-wide program of sustainability. Beginning with staff and board, and extending to members, artists, patrons, visitors and the many other community organizations with which it regularly collaborates, the Museum integrates sustainable procedures into all operations and programs.
At its opening, the Museum will feature stations throughout the facility dealing with sustainable aspects of the building and operations to inform its visitors, for whom these very important features would otherwise be invisible. This simple fact—that green buildings don't necessarily look different than other buildings—is one of the many important points the exhibits will make.
The Erie Art Museum invites the community to join in on a Director’s tour, featuring members of the Northwest PA Branch of the Green Building Alliance (GBA), Wednesday, March 31, at 4 p.m., 411 State Street. See the new construction, learn about green design and the value of sustainable operations, and talk to those engaged in current green projects. Refreshments and meet and greet to follow. RSVP by March 29th to Karen Puff at karenp@gbapgh.org.
About the Erie Art Museum
The Erie Art Museum anchors downtown Erie’s cultural and economic revitalization, occupying a group of restored mid-19th century commercial buildings, including an outstanding 1839 Greek Revival Bank. Currently under construction, the Museum’s $9 million building renovation and expansion project will create four major galleries, a number of smaller galleries, a 250-person multi-purpose performance space, a new unified entrance, and various visitor amenities. A grand opening is set for the fall of 2010.
The Museum maintains an ambitious program of 15 to 18 changing exhibitions annually, embracing a wide range of subjects, both historical and contemporary and including folk art, contemporary craft, multi-disciplinary installations, community-based work, as well at traditional media.
The Erie Art Museum also holds a collection of over 6,000 objects, which includes significant works in American ceramics, Tibetan painting, Indian bronzes, contemporary baskets, and a variety of other categories.
The Museum offers a wide range of education programs and artists’ services including interdisciplinary and interactive school tours and a wide variety of classes for the community. Performing arts are showcased in the 24-year-old Contemporary Music Series, which represents national and international performers of serious music with an emphasis on composer/performers, and a popular annual two-day Blues & Jazz Festival.
The Erie Art Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free for members, free on Wednesdays, $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students and $2 for children under 12.
For additional information on the Erie Art Museum, visit online at http://www.erieartmuseum.org/ or call (814) 459-5477.
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The large-scale project, which broke ground May 8, 2009 and is scheduled to conclude in concision with a public opening on October 24, 2010, combines 10,000 square feet of new construction with a renovation of the existing historic building space. The entire project embodies a wide range of green practices and the building will achieve LEED certification at the silver level or higher—the first certified building in the city of Erie.
Planning and development of the expansion project, has led the Museum to embrace an institution-wide program of sustainability. Beginning with staff and board, and extending to members, artists, patrons, visitors and the many other community organizations with which it regularly collaborates, the Museum integrates sustainable procedures into all operations and programs.
At its opening, the Museum will feature stations throughout the facility dealing with sustainable aspects of the building and operations to inform its visitors, for whom these very important features would otherwise be invisible. This simple fact—that green buildings don't necessarily look different than other buildings—is one of the many important points the exhibits will make.
The Erie Art Museum invites the community to join in on a Director’s tour, featuring members of the Northwest PA Branch of the Green Building Alliance (GBA), Wednesday, March 31, at 4 p.m., 411 State Street. See the new construction, learn about green design and the value of sustainable operations, and talk to those engaged in current green projects. Refreshments and meet and greet to follow. RSVP by March 29th to Karen Puff at karenp@gbapgh.org.
About the Erie Art Museum
The Erie Art Museum anchors downtown Erie’s cultural and economic revitalization, occupying a group of restored mid-19th century commercial buildings, including an outstanding 1839 Greek Revival Bank. Currently under construction, the Museum’s $9 million building renovation and expansion project will create four major galleries, a number of smaller galleries, a 250-person multi-purpose performance space, a new unified entrance, and various visitor amenities. A grand opening is set for the fall of 2010.
The Museum maintains an ambitious program of 15 to 18 changing exhibitions annually, embracing a wide range of subjects, both historical and contemporary and including folk art, contemporary craft, multi-disciplinary installations, community-based work, as well at traditional media.
The Erie Art Museum also holds a collection of over 6,000 objects, which includes significant works in American ceramics, Tibetan painting, Indian bronzes, contemporary baskets, and a variety of other categories.
The Museum offers a wide range of education programs and artists’ services including interdisciplinary and interactive school tours and a wide variety of classes for the community. Performing arts are showcased in the 24-year-old Contemporary Music Series, which represents national and international performers of serious music with an emphasis on composer/performers, and a popular annual two-day Blues & Jazz Festival.
The Erie Art Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free for members, free on Wednesdays, $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students and $2 for children under 12.
For additional information on the Erie Art Museum, visit online at http://www.erieartmuseum.org/ or call (814) 459-5477.
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Contact
Erie Art Museum
Carolyn Eller
814-459-5477
erieartmuseum.org
Carolyn Eller
814-459-5477
erieartmuseum.org
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