The second phase, funded by a grant from the Clean water Management Trust Fund, is a very innovative retention of storm water run off from the new building, landscape and adjoining parking areas into a series of planted terraces. It is under construction now and will be partially planted this fall, with the balance planted in May/June. By October 2010, we will be able to dedicate this ambitious project as part of a progressive green initiative at NCMA.

On this 40th Earth Day, its ideals may be celebrated as we open our new gallery building, welcome visitors to the Museum Park, and complete the Pond restoration. Here, art is connected to nature, completely. NCMA is taking a leadership role in sustainable design. Our day lit galleries are beautiful and reduce energy consumption, as does an advanced HVAC system for the collection. Rain water is collected to replenish pools and irrigate a sustainable landscape for sculpture. Our Park is preserving open space and introducing the community to contemporary art in nature. And we are building a unique and innovative storm water management pond to reduce sedimentation and point-source pollution to the state’s rivers and streams. We may not be saving the world, but we think the Museum is contributing in a significant way.

Read more about the green features of the Museum in our green statement.

While the installations are well underway in the white galleries, another dimension has begun: installation of the first of 2,000+ square yards of curtains. They are specifically designed and fabricated to control light for the collection, while softening the contrast between interior and exterior thus helping the eye to adjust for art viewing. They are three varieties of white.

Silver

The new building canopy at the entrance is nearing completion. Semi-reflective glass is being installed into the polished silver framework, reflecting the building and landscape on either side. The most dazzling aspect of the canopy is the polished stainless steel ceiling, reflecting visitors moving in and out of the gallery building.

Green

While the new building is green in the “eco” sense of the word it is also being surrounded by a green landscape. The first trees have arrived on site! Finally. This is the icing on the cake. During the next few weeks, over 200 trees will be installed and will radically change the context of the building. By early December the site will be green with all the landscape elements complete.

Red

The pond project is entering its last phase after final design approval. This is not only a landscape project that will help connect the park and buildings, but a progressive demonstration of sustainable design. The pond and swale are integral parts of a global water management system for the entire site from the “rings” to the new building.  Some 20,000 plants will be installed, with a new path connecting the Museum trail to the Amphitheater. It will be North Carolina red clay for just a few more months.

Gray

Lots of noise in the Museum’s existing lobby is due to jackhammering as part of the existing floor is removed to make space for a white oak floor, just like in the new building. It’s a very strange sight to see the lobby completely gutted back to the exterior walls. By January the space will be complete but for now it is about as gray as gray can be with concrete and dust.

Behold, the mighty stone thrower. Here’s a quick video clip showing the monster machine shooting a rock base into the giant cistern alongside our new building. (You can also check it out it high definition.)

The cistern is an important part of our campus-wide environmental sustainability program including water conservation, storm water management and energy efficiency. The big black pipes will hold 90,000 gallons of captured roof water and condensate from the building’s A.C. system for irrigation of the new gardens and replenishment of its pools. The cistern will also be tied into a comprehensive storm water management design for a 50-acre portion of the Museum campus.

We’ve registered the new building for LEED Certification. Our environmental control systems are designed to perform 45% more efficiently than standards, and the galleries will be primarily lit with filtered daylight. There’s more information in our just-released Green Statement.