$90-Mil Art Center Expansion Gets Builder

The Walker's expansion addresses the museum's need for additional space to meet the growth in attendance, programs, and collections as well as increase its emphasis on education. The enhanced Walker ArtCenter, with an additional 100,000-110,000 sf of interior space, 4 acres of green space, rooftop terraces and on-site underground parking, will feature galleries and gardens for the museum's growing collection; a high tech studio for contemporary dance, music, performance, and theater programs; a new-media laboratory; new spaces for education programs; and visitor amenities, including a new restaurant, cafe, shop and 700-vehicle parking facility.

The existing facility will be remodeled to better support other Walker programs, including those in film/video. The expanded facility is scheduled to open to the public in 2005.

"Mortenson has proven its ability to produce buildings of complex elegance on time and on budget," says Walker Director Kathy Halbreich.

Mortenson was the construction contractor for the Walker's 1984 remodeling and expansion project.

John Wood, senior vice president at Mortenson, says his firm was excited to be involved in this "landmark project."

Mortenson, established in 1954 in Minneapolis as M. A. Mortenson Company, provides services in general construction, construction management, design-build, and real estate development. The firm says it has expertise in cultural and performance facilities, public institutional buildings, corporate facilities, healthcare facilities, sports stadiums and arenas and parking facilities.

Mortenson's arts, entertainment, and cultural projects include the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles; the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Denver; the Community Life Center & Music Hall, Bethel College, St. Paul; the Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Wayzata, MN; The Bakken Library & Museum, Minneapolis; and Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul.