October 13, 2011

Chihuly glass exhibit and garden starts construction at Seattle Center

Image courtesy Sky-Pix Aerial Photography [enlarge]

Dale Chihuly’s Garden and Glass exhibition is under construction. The project covers 1.5 acres at Seattle Center and is set to be complete next spring, in time for the Seattle Center’s 50th Anniversary celebration.

Schuchart is the general contractor. Owen Richards Architects is the designer and AHBL is landscape architect.

Officials say it will be the world’s most comprehensive collection of Chihuly’s art. The project is funded by Center Art, a entity that is primarily made up of the Wright Family, owners of the Space Needle, and Chihuly. There is no cost to the city or public.

It will have 12,200 square feet of indoor exhibits and 20,500 square feet of outdoor space, with an exhibit area and an outdoor plaza.

The team is re-using the former Fun Forest pavilion and turning it into the exhibition’s indoor area. It will have gallery spaces, a cafe with an outdoor patio and seating, a 50-seat theater/lecture hall and a lobby/ticketing area. There will also be a retail and bookstore that sells art supplies, children’s items, studio edition glass, limited edition prints and other items.

A separate 43-foot-tall glass house that is 4,500 square feet will feature five large red and yellow chandeliers designed by Chihuly to appear as a single installation.

The outdoor garden will be about 16,000 square feet, with another 4,500 square feet for a plaza between the Glass House and the indoor pavilion.

The building is targeting LEED silver. It will have green roofs, green screen walls and natural ventilation. A press release for the exhibition says the project removes 30,000 square feet of 50-year-old grease-topped asphalt, replacing it with landscaping and art.

The exhibition will partner with Seattle Public Schools and several local nonprofits including Pratt Fine Arts Center, Pilchuck Glass School and ArtsFund to work on education and arts engagement for students and adults. The press release says the project is expected to create 100 jobs.

Other team members include the Seneca Group, development manager; Seattle Structural, structural engineer; Springline, civil engineer; Sparling, electrical/AV consultant; Architettura Design, cafe/retail consultant; H&M Electric, mechanical contractor; and Novum, glass house contractor.