February 19, 2013

Island Gateway on Bainbridge will be anchored by a museum

Rendering by Coates Design Architects [enlarge]

The 16,000-square-foot Bainbridge Island Museum of Art will open June 14 as the anchor tenant in Island Gateway, a mixed-use complex across from the ferry terminal.

The museum was designed by Coates Design Architects.

Other team members are: PHC Construction, general contractor; Coates and The Appel Group, interior design; Outdoor Studio, landscape architect; ARW Engineers, structural engineer; PAE Consulting Engineers and Holmberg Mechanical Co., mechanical engineers; Luma Lighting Design; BRC Acoustics; Michael McCafferty, exhibit lighting adviser; and Ann Frank Farrington, museum consultant.

The museum will house artwork from the Puget Sound region and show traveling exhibits.

Coates said the west side will have tall curved glass shaded by tilting wood louvers to protect the artwork.

The glass will allow pedestrians to see into the museum, which will be illuminated at night.

A gallery for traveling shows will be on the second level. It will have three skylights with baffled light shelves to prevent sun damage to the art.

The auditorium lobby will serve as a bistro and can be partitioned with sliding doors. The reception desk will resemble a boat hull, a nod to the region's maritime history.

A plaza will be in front of the entrance.

The project is seeking LEED gold certification. Green elements include geothermal heating; rooftop solar panels; denim insulation; countertops of recycled materials; low-flow plumbing fixtures and waterless urinals; and a roof garden. Tigerwood was used in design elements and siding for the entry.

Construction was finished in 2011 on a 4,000-square-foot auditorium and classroom that will attach to the museum.

Island Gateway is under construction. Besides the art museum, it will include a children's museum, retail and commercial space. Coates also designed it.