Personally I'm not a fan of any other them at that location on campus. I think North Campus should all use the style of pre-WWII architecture so a museum at this site should look more like an enlarged Paollucci building. I wouldn't mind seeing #2 or #4 on South Campus, but not here.
It's still hard to tell what #3 is with the architectural model. As much as they say this is going to front Grand River, I hope it doesn't only front Grand River facing west. As the East Village moves forward, this should be approachable from the east or the west.
Please educate the ignorant (me), why are all the designs so overboard and strange looking when the northern side of the university, and all our new construction is more classic and red brick? I understand that it will be associated with a museum, but what is the underlying drive to create such an ODD looking structure?
I think their purpose was to design a building that would be just as much of a piece of art, as the many pieces that will be housed inside it. Besides, something like this, that will no doubt become a public attraction, needs to stand out. I've been going to MSU for several years, and I have a hard time differentiating between the buildings on the North side of campus. There will be no doubt that this is the art museum when it's completed. Also, because it's going to be visited by the public, North Campus is the only sensible place to put it (especially along Grand River). Anywhere else and people would be less likely to know it's there, much less visit it.
Comments
#1:
#2:
#3:
#4:
#5:
These photos are from the State News article about the competition. Photos are hosted at Flickr
I like #2 less in this version.
An article published in the Lansing City Pulse about each of the designs.