What Do I Want In An Art Museum?

Interesting question posted by the P-C this morning...  as the University gets going on the design process to replace the Museum of Art, they asked some big-wigs around town the following question:

Now that UI officials are moving forward with efforts to construct a new museum without relocation funding from FEMA, what are some key factors those officials need to keep in mind as they figure out what the new facility will look like and where it will be built?

Fantastic question.  And I know the P-C didn't call me up and ask me specifically but there's a fantastic opportunity for the University to do this right this time and create a world class facility for a world class collection of art that seemed like one of the best kept secrets in town locked up in a dated old facility that had lousy parking and was kind of hard to find.

The most important thing then is location, location, location!  A new Art Museum should be as centrally located as possible and that, to me, means downtown.  My dream spots:

1. Hieronymous Lot, Burlington and Clinton:  it'd be ideal, large and easily connected to the new School of Music and about as centrally located as you could get.  Plus, there's bonus point from the city point of view- if they're serious about expanding downtown south of Burlington a sparkly, shiny new Art Museum could be the perfect centerpiece for a push south.   The downside is that it would probably involve some sort of public-private partnership with Marc Moen whom I believe still has the land.  I'm less enthusiastic about that but I could be persuaded of it's awesomeness 

2. The Ann Cleary Walkway Option:  The Dance Department has wanted the old Art Museum for years- the gallery space would be perfect for studio space so there's an option in the wind to move them across the river, take out Halsey Hall, WRAC and the god forsaken den of architectural hell that is the IMU Ramp- build a new, better ramp and stick the Museum on top of that so that it's entrance is right on the Ann Cleary Walkway.  It's on campus, it gets rid of the worst parking ramp ever made and you could easily connect it to the IMU if you need space for receptions, conferences and other events.  It's one of the highest traffic areas on campus. 

3.  Take The Mall Already:  Could be the easiest and most cost effective option of the three.  The University is going to take the Old Capitol Mall anyway at some point, so why not now?  It comes with it's own parking ramp- even the second floor would do the Museum just fine but it's really just kind of a blah notion.  A world class collection deserves a world class facility and this wouldn't be it but if it gets the Art Museum back to campus with the space it needs so in a pinch (of the budgetary variety) it could be acceptable.

Second, I have to jump on Mother Cigar's bandwagon on this one:  if part of the Museum's mission is academic in purpose, then one of the coolest things I saw at the Getty in Los Angeles was the room they had with one painting that people could sketch to their hearts content.   Interesting touches like that would be awesome.  A place for local and Iowa based artists would be cool.  An interesting design would also be cool.  Really and truly, this collection is a world class collection- I keep saying that, I know but it's true!  It's a cultural treasure of the State of Iowa that everybody in this state should be making trips here to come and see!  If you design the right building you could create something iconic that could be associated with the University, Iowa City and the entire state of Iowa for a very long time.

Basically:  go big or go home.