It is said that great cities have great museums. If that is so, one might also postulate that great communities have great museums. The Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, as the first art museum established in the Western U.S., is greater than the sum of its parts. It is both a great city museum and a great regional museum.

A $100 million expansion project, slated for completion next October, will permanently establish the Crocker as a museum of national significance for generations to come. A brilliantly conceived “classic contemporary” structure by the late architect Charles Gwathmey, the expansion will improve visitor amenities, enhance museum operations and provide new resources for collections care. The project also ensures that the Crocker Art Museum, founded in 1885, will enjoy another 125 years of inspiration and education.

The numbers are impressive. The new Crocker expansion adds some 125,000 square feet to the existing museum. The structure will contain: 8,200 square feet of glass, in the form of windows that feature views that highlight the beauty of the original Crocker and the natural beauty of Sacramento’s many trees. The exterior will be covered by 4,000 aluminum panels and 4,500 zinc panels. Underlying it all at the foundation, some 320 auger-cast piles were driven 60 feet deep to support the three-story structure.

Spacious new galleries already have 15 skylights specially designed to let in natural light – but without its destructive effects.

There is 12,000 square feet of exhibition space to display works of art.

“Not only will we have the ability to host some of the larger traveling art exhibits, we will be able to display some of the more massive works of art that were originally intended for display in grand homes or castles,” said Kathleen Richards, marketing communications coordinator for the Crocker. “These pieces can be very tall. The new expansion has spaces where these art works will be able to be seen and appreciated.”

A 7,000 square foot open air courtyard at the new museum entrance will allow the Crocker to host more than 1,200 people at outdoor events. The design of the courtyard allows visitors to enjoy and appreciate the architectural styles of both structures. A beautiful two-story atrium will have the capability of seating 400 for dinners. There is a 250 seat auditorium for presentations and educational events. There is handicapped access throughout. And – the new facilities will be available for special events, making Sacramento now capable of hosting some national cultural events.

“All of us at the Crocker are very excited to serve our community in ways that literally weren’t possible before and to be an even more integral part of civic life in Sacramento and the region,” said Lial Jones, museum director.

“This is an exhilarating time for the city of Sacramento, and the Crocker Art Museum’s expansion exemplifies the changes taking place,” said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. “The museum is vital to the region’s cultural and economic development, and the new Crocker is an important icon for Sacramento’s ongoing emergence as a cultural destination and a world-class city.”

 

The new Crocker

There will be more to the Crocker’s expansion than the 14,000 cubic yards of concrete and 1,400 tons of steel that make up its infrastructure.

“This will be one of the largest venues in Sacramento, if not the largest,” Richards said. “Hospitals and museums are the most expensive structures to build, due to the massive amount of infrastructure that is required. The building has to be able to withstand having many people visit it every day, year after year. The walls have to be able to bear the weight of heavy artwork. There has to be climate control and light control to preserve the art, and so on.”

Visitors will be able to walk up to windows on the first floor that look into the conservation area. It will be an opportunity for everyone, from school children to adults, to learn about the science of preserving art.

“Conservation is a very interesting field,” Richards said. “You have to have a master’s degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in art. The conservation center will enable us to provide better collections care and restoration, as well as education.”

The museum staff will have something they have never had before: ample modern office space. Located on the third floor, the architect’s design provides each worker with desk space and personal space, while opening the larger space to the eye.

The opening of the new facility is planned for Oct. 10. The Crocker plans a series of special exhibitions that will feature highlights of the museum’s permanent collection. Many pieces have never been displayed to the public before.

The Crocker’s expansion is supported by a $100 million capital campaign. More than $90 million has been raised to date. The campaign has received generous donations of $1 million or more. The new wing of the museum will be named the Teel Family Pavilion in recognition of a lead gift from the Joyce and Jim Teel Family Foundation. Building on this success, the museum is launching a broad-based fund-raising and member campaign.

 

E-mail Susan at susan@valcomnews.com.

 

Crocker Art

The Crocker Art Museum is located at 216 O Street in downtown Sacramento. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors 65 and better, $3 for students with a valid ID and free for children ages six and under. Thanks to a generous grant from Bank of America, admission is free on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with extended hours on first and third Thursdays until 9 p.m.

For more information about the Crocker, call (916) 808-7000 or visit www.crockerartmuseum.org.