The metal structure and mostly glass walls of the Wexner Center for the Arts have been a welcoming sight for guests to its many exhibitions and programs for over 12 years. The inside of the structure, however, is on the verge of a multi-million dollar facelift.
The university has allocated $10 million for renovations to the building, said Karen Simonian, spokeswoman for the Wexner Center. The center hopes to use the funds to repair the roof and upgrade the lighting and climate control systems.
“With the new technology that has been developed in the last decade, we’ll be able to install a state of the art lighting control system, and we’ll be able to regulate the amount of light according to the exhibition or type of art,” Simonian said.
Simonian said art is a medium that is sensitive to light and climate. As it is now, the center cannot control the amount of light from exhibition to exhibition.
William J. Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance, said $10 million is only an estimate and details would be known as soon as the architect finished the planning. He said the money comes from funds that have been set aside that none of the building’s funds come from students’ tuition money. The sources include unrestricted gift money and income not spent as budgeted.
Simonian said that since the renovation money has already been allocated, the proposed budget cuts should not affect the project.
Shkurti said it is not likely that the money allocated for the Wexner Center renovation would be cut because the money provided from the state is money continuously given to the university, while the Wexner Center money is a one time fund. It can therefore not substitute for the budget cuts.
According to Shkurti, the repair of the roof is a maintenance project to permanently fix the roof, which has needed temporary repairs in the past. The permanent fixture is cheaper than the temporary fixes.
Jill Morelli, assistant vice president and university architect, said leakage from the roof has caused damage to the dry wall in more than one location.
Most of the renovations will take place in the gallery. Once the renovation begins iin mid-2002, the exhibitions will continue in other venues. The performing arts events can continue unaffected. If necessary, events will take place in other venues around the university and the city, including Weigel Hall and the Drake Performance and Events Center.
“The exhibitions department will have to take into account the limitations or benefits of other venues and carry (the exhibition) accordingly,” Simonian said.
Simonian said the programmers will also have to adapt to the other venues, but the essence of what the Wexner Center does would remain the same despite the location changes.
According to Simonian, the renovations have been discussed for several years, but the availability of new technology made this the year to make the move on the project.
“We want to get the new technologies in place as soon as possible to be more flexible with the programming,” Simonian said.
The architect, Scott Conlon, was hired in March. The university is in the process of hiring a construction manager.
Morelli said the architect will research the Wexner Center in the near future and than start the drawings and planning of the project.
The Wexner Center renovations were approved at the last Board of Trustee’s meeting April 6
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