The new Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum will house modern works, and that is clearly reflected in the architecture of this new museum located in the heart of Michigan State University’s campus. Designed by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid of London, it will dedicate more than 70% of its space for art galleries and art display. Other elements include an education wing, museum shop, visitors café, staff offices, and study center. Integrated Design Solutions of Michigan is the executive architect.

Given the building’s unique design, Barton Malow carried out an exceptional preconstruction effort to source materials and ensure constructability. One of the most sophisticated systems of this museum will be its HVAC system, which will maintain a relative humidity of 50% year-round; exterior louvers will control light intensity. These features will play a role in gaining LEED certification. Construction will be substantially complete in December 2011, however the museum will not open until 2012 in order to stabilize the environment and install the collections.

Unique Challenges:

Throughout the design team’s development of the design and modeling process, Barton Malow performed our successful BIM model integration process whereby we extracted from the collaborative design model information for interactive estimating, value engineering, schedule productivity, and design assist interface.

This project posed some critical preconstruction issues. In our successful experience working on a multitude of challenging high profile, iconic design projects, combined with our understanding of Michigan State University’s project goals and past expectations, we developed a plan to address these issues. Some of these issues included:

• Need for a collaborative design studio environment – the ability to co-locate the entire team, including MSU, is required on a complex and dynamic project such as this. We offered this design collaboration studio be housed in BMC’s headquarters, centrally located within the region and with the built-in technology, video conferencing, and networking capabilities to reach vendors internationally.
• Custom designed and engineered systems, especially on the exterior envelope and frame - Our experience with unique, custom exterior enclosure envelope systems will most likely require participation with vendors/suppliers from the European Union (EU). Our experience working with architects such as Renzo Piano Architects with offices in France and Italy have taught us about the close and innovative development of custom envelopes being used throughout Europe, China and now in the United States and how to cost model these unique creations and designs.
• Creation of a harmonious balance of budget versus cost, ecologically sustainable development (ESD) and Museum functionality – the mix between MSU contribution and the Eli & Edythe Broad donation sources and use of funding for the project, donor requests/conditions balanced with the project aesthetics, ESD, exhibition day lighting and solar control, ventilation & humidification challenges and special lighting with first cost/life cycle cost benefits of energy savings/costs over the life of the project.