National Building Museum Annual Report 2008
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NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM AnnUAL REPORT 2008 left: An arroyo-like planted zone at Orange Moeller: What kinds of projects are you working on now? County Great Park, in Irvine, California, designed by Ken Smith Landscape Architect and Mia Lehrer & Associates. Hopper: The firm where I am now practices across a Photo courtesy ASLA. broad spectrum of the landscape architecture profes- above: Native garden, Santa Monica, California, sion including a good deal of municipal work. We are part of a demonstration project to promote working with a couple of different housing authorities, sustainable landscaping practices. Landscape designer: Susanne Jett, Jettscapes Landscape. as well as with New York City Parks and Recreation Photo courtesy of the American Society of in designing some of their play environments and Landscape Architects. recreation facilities. These projects involve some of the below: High Point, a redevelopment of a same safety, environmental, and social issues as in pub- 1940s-era public housing project in Seattle, lic housing. More specifically, in terms of sustainabil- Washington. Planning, architecture, and overall landscape design by Mithun. ity, we are working with Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC © Mithun, Juan Hernandez. program [a long-term plan for “a greener, greater New York”]. We are helping to identify tree-planting loca- tions on housing authority sites, through the sponsor- ship of the New York Restoration Project, which is Bette Midler’s group. We are also part of the mayor’s Schoolyards to Playgrounds program, taking barren spaces that are covered in asphalt and surrounded by chain link fence and redesigning them so they really become community assets. We are actually working with kids to redesign their own schoolyards with the goal of having a community playground within a ten- minute walk of all residents. FIscal YEAR 2008 AT-A-GLANCE In all our projects, we are talking more and more (October 2007 through September 2008) about the connections between design and human well- Total Attendance: 406,796 being, so whether we are looking at creating walkable communities or providing pleasant outdoor spaces, we Web site hits: 1,909,648 are also looking at how we can leverage the design for Public program attendance: 18,916 the maximum possible benefit—socially, economically, School program attendance: 24,227 and environmentally. • Estimated media impressions: 163,824,079* Total Revenue: $9,519,662 Total Contributed Income: $5,631,216 Total Number and Value of Volunteer Hours: 11,488 hours; estimated value $345,798 or $30.10 per hour** *Media impressions are calculated based on a publication’s circulation rates and indicate the potential readership for any given news article. **Source: The Independent Sector 12 blueprints Winter & Spring 2008/2009 Annual Report 2008 National Building Museum Message from the Chair and the Executive Director Honoring Leaders in the Built Environment In June, the Museum presented its 2008 Honor Managing Our Most Important Asset A Thoroughly Modern Museum Award to The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and its nationwide network of 96 As the National Building Museum’s fiscal year Over the past fiscal year, the Museum reexamined chapters. As the nation’s largest and oldest construc- 2008 was coming to a close in October, the glob- a seminal movement in architecture and design: tion trade association, AGC has actively shaped the al economy, which had been gradually sliding 20th-century Modernism. The cornerstones of building industry while promoting excellence and downhill, fell off a cliff. Suddenly, longstanding this exploration were a pair of exhibitions about safety. The award gala raised more than $1.2 million assumptions about society crumbled, as did the two of the movement’s most creative figures: for the Museum’s exhibitions and programming. public’s faith in many venerable institutions. Yet Marcel Breuer and Eero Saarinen. Featuring In December 2007, the ninth Vincent Scully from this daunting situation there has emerged a large-scale models of landmarks like Breuer’s Prize was presented to Richard Moe, president of broad resolve to seek meaningful solutions. Whitney Museum of American Art and Saarinen’s the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in To that end, the mission of the National Gateway Arch, the exhibitions revealed that these recognition of his leadership in expanding public Building Museum has never been more vital. architects—though both deceased for decades— understanding of the importance of protecting The Museum is, after all, one of the most continue to exert a powerful influence on and celebrating our built heritage. important stewards of our nation’s greatest tan- contemporary design. Due to a scheduling change, the Henry gible asset: the built environment. Bridges and As a counterpoint to the focus on Modern- C. Turner Prize for Innovation in Construction parks, schools and airports, office buildings and ism, the exhibition Lasting Foundations: The Art Technology was awarded twice during fiscal year houses—these are the components of a diverse of Architecture in Africa explored the long and 2008. In October 2007, Frank Gehry of Gehry portfolio that continues to serve society’s needs seamless history of vernacular building across Partners and Dennis Shelden of Gehry Technol- regardless of the vicissitudes of financial markets. that continent. The visually-rich exhibition in- ogies were recognized for pushing the boundaries Increasingly, government officials, business peo- cluded original works of architectural sculpture, of construction and engineering to create some ple, and the general public are recognizing that handicrafts, photographs, and film. Green is Still Good of the world’s most distinctive buildings. In this vast and complex asset must be protected, Ongoing exhibitions included Cityscapes September 2008, the award was presented to Dr. carefully managed, and continuously reinvented Revealed: Highlights from the Collection; Wash- For years, the Museum has been an advocate and Charles H. Thornton, an engineer, for his role as in order to ensure its long-term viability. ington: Symbol and City; and the phenomenally resource for sustainable, or green, design, and the founder of the ACE Mentor program, which During fiscal year 2008, the Museum, popular Building Zone gallery, where young 2008 was no exception. This past year, thanks to introduces high school students to careers in the through its exhibitions, education programs, children learn about the built environment the support of The Home Depot Foundation, design and building industries. publications, and awards programs, continued to through hands-on activities. the Museum once again presented the critically- acclaimed program series For the Greener Good: above: Children explore the green Project Play- shape the public’s understanding of the past, pres- Enhancing Our Intellectual Capital houseTM in the Museum’s interactive exhibition ent, and future of our buildings and communities. Conversations That Will Change the World, and Thanks to the generosity of Beverly Willis, a found- the Building Zone. launched a project to make the Museum’s galler- Photo by Peter Cutts. ing trustee of the Museum, and other generous ies and institutional practices greener. donors, we opened the renovated Beverly Willis right: Coordinating Curator Susan Piedmont- Other education programs included the Palladino gives a tour of the exhibition Marcel Library in March 2008. The new library provides venerable Spotlight on Design lecture series, Breuer: Architecture and Design during an improved facilities for research, meetings, and opening reception for Museum members. which featured the latest Pritzker Prize laure- presentations. We wasted no time in taking advan- above left: The National Building Museum Photo by Peter Cutts. ate, Jean Nouvel, among others. The annual tage of this facility as we welcomed our first two honored the Associated General Contractors of cover: The exhibition Eero Saarinen: Shaping the L’Enfant Lecture, held in Chicago this past America and its network of chapters during a fellows—thanks to the support of The American black-tie gala in the Great Hall. Future included models of many of Saarinen’s year, was given by California architect Teddy most famous projects, including the St. Louis Institute of Architects and Cynthia and Charles Photo by Paul Morigi. Cruz, who spoke about the need to diminish Gateway Arch and Dulles International Airport. Field—who spent the summer conducting research Photo by Peter Cutts. geographical boundaries and other barriers to above middle: A young visitor learns about the that advanced the mission of the Museum. building industry during the 2008 Festival of the improving design and planning. Building Arts. As always, the Museum board and staff are The Museum’s highly-regarded youth and Photo by Jenn Michaelree. indebted to the members, corporate sponsors, family education programs once again actively and many other contributors who made all of above top: Panelists discuss pressing engaged youngsters in meaningful exploration sustainability issues during the Museum’s our activities possible. Despite the economic of the built environment. Family events such ongoing lecture series For the Greener Good: challenges that face us all, we look forward to an- Conversations that Will Change the World. as the Festival of the Building Arts and Discover Photo by Peter Cutts. other productive, creative, and informative year. Engineering Family Day drew a total