The North Carolina Museum of Art’s new building is aiming for LEED gold standards when it opens in 2010.
The new expansion is designed to allow more natural light to control energy costs but will still protect artwork from sunlight's damaging rays. It will do this with ultraviolet filers, louvers and curtains. And if direct sunlight threatens artworks, blackout shades will be deployed by sensors. Dan Gottlieb, the museum’s director of planning and design, said, “We have spent about as much money keeping light out as we have letting light in.”
The design will save water by using a 90,000-gallon cistern to hold roof water runoff and air conditioning condensation. The water will be used to irrigate the gardens that make up much of the museum’s new look. The building will also feature five courtyards and three reflecting pools.
The museum will close this September 6th to move its 800 artworks to the new, 127,000-square foot building, which is scheduled to open the following April.
Comments