Emersion Design to partner with CAM on Art Academy Building renovation

The Cincinnati Art Museum has selected Emersion Design to lead an architecture and engineering partnership that will renovate its historic Art Academy Building.  While in its early phases, the project is expected to break ground next summer with an organized fund raising campaign scheduled to begin in October 2010.  The renovation work signifies the first phase of the museum's long-term renovation and expansion plans.

According to project manager Jim Cheng, Cincinnati-based Emersion Design will be partnering with Advanced Engineering Consultants out of Columbus on engineering work, and Heapy Engineering from Dayton on electrical work.  Outside of the familiar partnerships, Cheng says that the real joy will be working to improve the historic structure for a world-class institution.

"The Art Academy was built in 1886 for art education purposes, and to bring people the many staff members together whose mission is to do that is really pretty cool," Cheng said. 

The renovation will result in the consolidation of more than 180 CAM staff members currently working in spaces throughout the building.  Project officials anticipate that this consolidation will create an opportunity for even more renovation work down the road.  Once complete, the CAM expects to benefit from an additional 15,000 square feet of exhibition space.

"We are pleased to begin work on this project which has been in the planning phases for many years," said CAM Director Aaron Betsky.  "Partnering with them [Emersion] now will allow us to be sensitive both to the legacy of the Art Academy building’s past and the present need for environmentally sensitive design and construction as well as improved staff work spaces."

Writer: Randy A. Simes
Photography by Scott Beseler
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