Hasta La Ideas

On a decidedly more positive architectural note: after scrapping their Toyo Ito-designed plans for an all new building back in November, then putting a call out to firms to restore an old one, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive have just selected their partners in the project: Diller Scofido + Renfro (certainly not a step down after Ito in terms of high profile designers working on their new space). They’ll be paired with the local firm EHDD who will serve as the firm of record for the project, which is set to blend an existing 48,000 sq. ft. former printing plant with 50,000 sq. ft. of new, additional space, right in downtown Berkeley. The project is estimated to cost $95 million at the moment, half of which has been raised. Here’s the official statement from the head of the BAM/PFA:

“Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s commitment to integrating architecture with contemporary culture and civic life perfectly aligns with BAM/PFA’s core mission: to ignite critical dialogue and inspire the imagination through art and film,” said Lawrence Rinder, director of BAM/PFA. “We are thrilled to be collaborating with DS+R to design and build a new museum that will deepen our audiences’ dynamic engagement with art and which will provide educational opportunities for Berkeley, the Bay Area, and the global community.”

To coincide with the announcement, the organization has just launched a site for the “new” building, which you’ll presumably be able to follow their progress as they work toward opening the space toward the end of 2014.

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