$130M expansion of St. Louis Art Museum gets go-ahead

ST. LOUIS -- A $130.5 million expansion of the St. Louis Art Museum is no longer on hold.

The noted museum in Forest Park announced the go-ahead for the expansion on Tuesday -- 13 months after weakening credit markets and the sour economy delayed the project.

Officials say the actual work will begin immediately on the expansion that has been in the planning stages for more than a decade. The new wings are expected to open in about two years, and the museum will remain open during construction.

With the expansion, the free-admission museum will be able to display more of its 30,000-piece collection. It is particularly known for its Oceanic art, pre-Columbian art, ancient Chinese bronzes and European and American art of the late 19th and 20th centuries. The collection includes works by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and many others.

"The St. Louis Art Museum is one of our nation's most valuable cultural assets," said John Weil, president of the museum's board of commissioners. "This expansion is our generation's contribution to the future of this great St. Louis institution."

Construction originally scheduled to begin in late 2008 was delayed because of the economic uncertainty. But museum officials say market conditions have improved, the capital campaign was well-received and negotiations with contractors were successful.

The museum has raised $135 million in pledges, and officials plan to seek $10 million more in public donations. No tax money will be used, though tax funds help pay for day-to-day operations.

More than 200,000 square feet of space will be added, allowing for new galleries, public space and a 300-space below-ground parking garage that will more than double parking capacity.

The design by British architect David Chipperfield calls for an addition to the east and south of the original building that was constructed in 1904 as part of the World's Fair. The addition will feature a polished concrete facade that will include skylights and several floor-to-ceiling windows.

"This project will strengthen the existing museum, clarify the use of space, and create a new architectural whole that encompasses both old and new within the Art Museum's extraordinary setting in Forest Park," Chipperfield said in a statement.

The St. Louis Art Museum project was among several around the country delayed by the economy. Expansions in Columbus, Ohio, and Cincinnati are on hold. Others have been scrapped altogether.

Trustees of the Cleveland Museum of Art voted Monday to begin the second major phase of a $350 million expansion and renovation, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported, but the vote authorizes only the first half of the remaining work. The newspaper said trustees will vote in June on whether to move forward with the final stages.