By their very nature,
art museums
are tightly controlled environments. To preserve the fragile and
precious artifacts inside, the temperature, humidity and amount of
direct sunlight must be kept within strict tolerances at all times, even
after hours. Because of these requirements, it’s rare for museums to be
energy efficient compared to other green buildings of their size.
So, when the nearly completed
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA), near
Seattle, announced recently that it had achieved
LEED Gold status
for its many energy conservation systems, the rest of the art world
took notice that it is possible to be a steward of both the arts and the
environment at the same time.
Located a half-hour ferry ride across Puget Sound from downtown Seattle, BIMA is scheduled to
open its doors on June 14,
featuring a collection of mostly locally produced art works from the
Puget Sound region, as well as other traveling exhibits from around the
United States.
The designer,
Coates Design Architects, incorporated a number of sustainable aspects into the museum, including a
geothermal energy system to heat and cool the building,
solar panels to generate electricity,
recycled building materials whenever possible,
low-flow plumbing fixtures and a
green roof to help absorb and reuse the abundant rainfall of the Pacific Northwest.
On the south side of the building, Coates also included a sweeping
28-foot-tall wall of curved glass, allowing for striking views of the
interior. To protect the art hanging inside from potential sun damage
and solar gain, the glass wall is hugged by an array of horizontal
wooden louvers that can automatically open and close depending on the
angle of the sun. In the gallery spaces,
natural daylight
is provided by three skylights on the the upper floor. This light is
scattered by curved baffles underneath the skylights, which create an
even, diffused glow throughout the interior.
BIMA will be the anchor tenant of the
Island Gateway
project, a group of high-end, mixed-use buildings, also designed by
Coates. The curved façade of BIMA will act as an entrance to an open
plaza between the museum and the other Island Gateway buildings, which
are within easy walking distance from the island’s ferry terminal.
