New design for the Jones Center triples space to more than 20,000 square feet.
Arthouse begins a 5 million USD renovation and expansion of its Austin-based headquarters, The Jones Center at 700 Congress Avenue in Austin, TX. Groundbreaking for and construction of the project, designed by Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis of New York, begins October 28, with a grand reopening scheduled for October 2010. The new Jones Center will be a dazzling contemporary landmark and a major cultural destination in downtown Austin.
Nearly tripling the total space from 7,000 square feet to 20,830 square feet, the renovation project transforms the façade and both floors, adding new galleries, two studios, a 90-seat community/screening room as well as the addition of a unique 5,500 square-foot roof top venue for art, film, and special events.
Architectural design to enhance Congress Avenue and respect the history of the building
The renovation design led by Paul Lewis of Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis (LTL) derives from the desire to create a contemporary landmark appropriate for the cutting-edge exhibitions presented by Arthouse, the layered history of the existing building and the prominence of the Congress Avenue location. The new additions visible at street level will include an expanded wrap around glass entry and an enlarged awning with the entrance to the new lobby located directly on Congress Avenue. The original second floor department store display window will be expanded to match the ratio for video projection which will be visible from the street at night. The majority of the building’s exterior will be perforated by over 160 laminated glass blocks. Aggregated where light is needed in the interior, these apertures will unify the façade and light the building in a stunning, original way appropriate for this experimental art venue.
“Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis’ design reflects Arthouse’s desire to embrace and promote contemporary architecture and emerging architects,” according to Executive Director Sue Graze. “We are confident that their unconventional use of materials and forms will strengthen further the public presence of the Jones Center, providing visitors with a greater capacity to experience all facets of contemporary art.”
About Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis (LTL)
Founded in 1997 by Paul Lewis, Marc Tsurumaki, and David J. Lewis, Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis (LTL Architects) is an architecture and design partnership that explores the opportunistic overlaps between form, program and materiality. The New York-based firm has completed academic, institutional, residential and hospitality projects throughout the United States, including the College of Wooster’s Bornhuetter Hall in Ohio, and Fluff, Tides and Xing restaurants in New York City. LTL received the 2007 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for Interior Architecture and the 2007 James Beard Award for Best Restaurant Design. The firm’s work is part of several museum collections and has been exhibited widely at venues including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Walker Art Center, Carnegie Museum of Art and the U.S. Pavilion at the 2004 Venice Architecture Biennale. Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis are the authors of Opportunistic Architecture (2008) and Situation Normal….Pamphlet Architecture #21 (1998). Current work includes Arthouse at the Jones Center, a villa in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, and a new administrative campus for the Claremont University Consortium in Claremont, California. Paul Lewis is an assistant professor at Princeton University, Marc Tsurumaki is an adjunct professor at Columbia University, and David Lewis is an associate professor at Parsons The New School for Design.
Arthouse Capital Campaign
The 6.6 million USD Arthouse Capital Campaign is raising the remaining 1 million USD required for full construction funding. For details see www.arthousetexas.org
About Arthouse
Founded in 1911, Arthouse creates meaningful opportunities to investigate and experience the art of our time through exhibitions, programs and commissions of new work.
For more information on Arthouse, please visit www.arthousetexas.org ,
or contact Virginia Jones at vjones@arthousetexas.org or (512) 453-5312.
