The banging and clanging of construction has become so familiar at the University of Montana, the noise, it seems, has become nearly as predictable as the hourly clock-tower chimes.
As the new year rings in, the campus community can expect the sounds of expansion to continue far into the future.
The likely spot will be in the northeast corner of the main Adams Center parking lot, directly across from the Student Recreation Center and on the corner closest to the footbridge that crosses the Clark Fork River.
If and when the museum is built there, Van Buren Street, which runs between the parking lot and the Adams Center, would be closed altogether. The former street will be turned into a walking mall, said Jim Foley, UM executive vice president.
If and when that happens, Foley said Campus Drive, which is currently a one-way street between the Adams Center parking lot and the Grizzly football practice fields, would become a two-way street.
At this point, though, there are no answers as to what would happen to the parking spaces that would be displaced by the museum.
“Again, this is something that is in early - very early - discussion,” Foley said. Nevertheless, UM is serious about having a formal museum space - one that is worthy of its massive collection - in the works and under construction by 2009, with doors open in 2010.
“We are absolutely thrilled the momentum is there for this project and that the campus, including President Dennison, is so supportive,” said Barbara Koostra, director of UM's Museum of Art & Culture.
“It is the first time in the history of this beautiful collection, which has been coming together over the past 112 years, that plans are being made to exhibit it. It's really been a homeless collection, and building a home for it is the right thing to do.”
As Montana State University in Bozeman has its Museum of the Rockies to showcase its fossil collection and the science that surrounds it, UM will have a museum that focuses on arts and culture, Koostra said.
“We will fill a state mission that isn't being met right now,” she said. “This collection belongs to the people of Montana, and it will be wonderful to offer visits and displays.”
Finding and securing the funding is the project's first major hurdle to clear. As UM plans for the museum, it will also be looking for funding to build the new Native American Center planned for the Oval in the green space west of the Math Building and the new Executive Education Building - which is slated to be built on the west side of the Gallagher Business Building.
After UM's Capital Campaign wraps up next year, construction will begin to expand the Education Building.
Also in early discussion is talk of building an Alumni Center where the campus tennis courts currently sit, next to the University Center. If that were to happen, the courts would be moved to UM's South Campus, where family housing, the soccer field, a golf course and the campus track is located.
What to do with the golf course property will be discussed in a series of community meetings, which begin Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. in the Lewis and Clark Community Center, and will be held twice a month through June.
As for campus projects currently under way, Foley said the new Journalism Building and expansion of the Skaggs Building will be finished this coming spring. Dedication ceremonies for both buildings are expected to be held in the weeks before the semester ends, Foley said.
The Skaggs project cost $14 million and will allow for more laboratories, storage and classrooms for UM's expanding biomedical research and graduate programs. The Journalism Building, which will be formally named Anderson Hall, cost $13 million.
Finally, the Hellgate Canyon side of Washington-Grizzly Stadium will be expanded to allow for 2,000 additional seats. Construction will begin at the end of the 2007 football season, and be completed in time for the 2008 season.
Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at bcohen@missoulian.com
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