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Museums are the newest buildings to go GREEN! Have you been to downtown Grand Rapids lately? If not, go & see the towering cranes constructing medical research centers, new restaurants opening up in revitilized area all around the city & a special gem, the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Despite conflicting priorites, it is possible to create a certified green museum, as demonstrated by Michigan's Grand Rapids Art Museum, which is rated LEED gold. Advanced mechanical systems, including an "enery wheel" that blends old and new filtered air, help to reduce energy costs. But the most striking advance is actually a throwback to much older museums: oversized skylights that crown the galleries. Banished decades ago, the skylights, here call sky lanterns, are back with triple layered glass that blocks the UV rays, while internal louvers deflect direct sunlight. A fabric scrim layer further diffuses the light. READ MORE ON WHAT THE ARCHITECT HAS TO SAY!
"sKYLIGHTS FOR MUSEUMS ARE DIFFERENT FROM HOME VERSIONS," SAYS THE MUSEUM'S ARCHITECT, Thai-born Kulapat Yantrasast. "In a house you just want light to come in and you accept shadows. But not in a gallery. Also, it's okey at home for sunlight tones on the north and south walls to differ, but in a museum you want light to be neutral and consistent." The privately funded Grand Rapids museum had the flexibility to build as it wished. Established in the heart of dowtown Grand Rapids, the new art museum is internationally known for its distinguished design and LEED Gold certified status. Established in 1910 as the Grand Rapids Art Association, GRAM has grown to include more than 5,000 works of art, including American and European 19th & 20th centruy painting and sculpture and over 3,000 owrks on paper. Embracing the city's legacy as a leading center of design and manufacturing, GRAM has a growing collection in the area of design and modern craft. Give me a call & when you are in Saugatuck/Douglas next, I can show you around our wondering city of Grand Rapids, just a quick 30 minute car ride. You will fall in love w/all Grand Rapids has to offer! |
