Art museum officials hope for summer completion

Barring any construction surprises, renovation of the building that will house the new Fort Smith Regional Art Museum should be complete by summer.

Tuesday morning (Dec. 21), Galen Hunter, an architect and partner with MAHG Architecture; Leo Anhalt, with SSI Inc.; and Steve Williamson, Architectural Glass & Metals Inc., provided the media an update on museum progress.

According to Steven Jones, vice president of the FSRAM board of directors, the museum is “well over” 50% toward a $2.2 million fundraising goal necessary to renovate the 15,000-square-foot building at 1601 Rogers Ave., near downtown Fort Smith. Arvest Bank donated the former branch bank at 1501 Rogers Ave. — acquired in its $211 million purchase of Superior Federal Bank in late 2003 — to the art center in early January 2009 to expand space to exhibit art, photos and provide other services.

Anhalt said SSI, the general contractor on the project, has sent renovation drawings to subcontractors with the hopes of getting an estimate on renovation costs no later than the end of January. Anhalt also said the subcontractors are told of SSI’s level of donation to the cause, and he hopes they are “very civic minded” with their estimates.

“We essentially are hoping, and believe, we will get some in-kind pricing from them (subcontractors),” Anhalt said during the media update.

Jones praised MAHG, SSI and Architectural Glass for their “considerable discounts” in the work to date. It was noted that during partial demolition required to prepare for renovation, SSI sold metal scrap from the demolition to area recyclers and donated the money back to the museum fund.

Hunter and Anhalt estimated renovation costs between $1 million and $1.5 million. Part of that cost will include new glass windows recently released on the market that block up to 94% of ultraviolet rays and are more energy efficient, Williamson said.

The building is expected to include an Internet coffee shop, digital workroom, library and gift shop. Also, the entrance to the building will be in what is now the rear of the structure, with the large glass-enclosed space that was the entrance providing space for hanging art (sculptures) and the stairs to the second floor.

An 1,800-square-foot main gallery space on the first floor is designed for changing exhibits and traveling shows. Museum officials plan to seek accreditation as a Smithsonian affiliate in order to bring prominent art pieces and shows to Fort Smith. A specialized and expensive heating and air conditioning system that provides precise temperature and humidity control will help recruit a broader range of art items and shows to Fort Smith, Anhalt explained.

A 1,200-square-foot permanent gallery space is planned for the second floor. The second floor space will include smaller gallery spaces and a small conference room.

Two classroom/lecture spaces adjacent to a “demonstration kitchen” for culinary arts will occupy the basement of the building. The space, for a “reasonable fee,” will be open to the public. FSRAM Board President Marta Jones said the entire building — with the exception of art pieces that require special security measures — will be open for community events, charity functions and private events such as weddings.

As to the fundraising effort, Steven Jones said he is pleased with the progress and impressed with how the community has supported the effort.

“I have to credit Arvest for planting the seed with this (building donation). … That has resulted in more community buy-in,” Jones said. “It’s really going to be everybody’s museum.”