Latest News: 2008-2010 | 2007

Jennifer Bartlett's Pacific Ocean Installed.
Thursday, August 19, 2010

Many hands helped install Pacific Ocean by Jennifer Bartlett in the Teel Family Pavilion recently.

It took two days and much preparation to hang the painting, which stands nine feet high and 30 feet wide and was given by AT&T to the Museum's permanent collection.

Great Canyon of the Sierras, Yosemite Installed.
Friday, August 6, 2010

This week, Thomas Hill's monumental Great Canyon of the Sierras, Yosemite, was installed in the Teel Family Pavilion. A collection favorite, the painting measures 10 feet wide by six feet high and has been on view since it was purchased by the Crocker family.

Artwork in progress.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010

The Crocker's installation team has started to place cases, pedestals and risers in what will be the new Asian art galleries.

In other galleries, art installation is well underway with some paintings now hanging on walls.

Art installation is far from done, though. Since art installation began in mid-June until the Grand Opening on October 10, the team will be installing approximately 3,000 works of art.

The art has left the building.
Thursday, June 17, 2010

Renovation of the current facility started with the removal of art. Below is a photo of the now-empty California Gallery.

Here is a view of what the California Gallery looked life just before art removal. Since 2006, this gallery was hung Salon-Style, where paintings are hung utilizing every available inch of space, one-atop-another and side-by-side.

During the next four months, the ground floor of the current facility will be transformed into an Education Center with four studio art classrooms, an education resource center, a space for participatory arts programming for children and adults, an expanded library, and new student exhibition space.

A place to sit and contemplate.
Thursday, May 6, 2010

While gallery walls await works of art, geometric inspired benches sit quietly, ready for their first visitor. With over 125,000 square feet of new gallery space to navigate, these strategically placed benches provide a welcome repose.

First artwork is installed in the New Crocker.
Friday, April 30, 2010

It took a forklift and 8 well placed men to install Falling Water, a bronze sculpture by California artist Jack Zajac. At 16 feet tall and just over 800 lbs., it was a precarious and momentous installation as it is the first piece to be installed into the New Crocker's main foyer.

New Courtyard Gate Doors Installed.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010

During the next few weeks, construction crews will install doors into the new courtyard gate. The gate consists of eight doors, each weighing 400 pounds. The entire first floor of the New Crocker will be free to the public, including access to the new courtyard and the existing courtyard.

Landscaping the New Crocker.
Thursday, April 1, 2010

The area surrounding the Museum is looking less and less like a construction site, especially with the new landscaping taking shape around the new building's perimeter. Crews recently planted five oak trees along O Street. Additional landscaping includes five crape myrtles, nine Chinese pistaches, and 12 crabapple trees.

Interiors near completion.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010

As the galleries near completion with a fresh coat of paint, modular temporary wall space is built to hold works of art. The finished auditorium complete with luxuriously upholstered seating and a state-of-the-art multimedia system looks ready to host its first audience.

Crocker lettering installed.
Thursday, February 17, 2010

Workers installed the Crocker Art Museum lettering onto the new building's facade early this morning, heralding the near completion of the project.

Auditorium Seats are Installed.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Comfortable stadium style theatre seating has recently been installed in the new auditorium. This new space will accomodate 260 people for films, concerts and lectures. For more information on named recognition of theatre seat sponsorship, visit the Get Involved page.

New courtyard gates framed.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The new courtyard entrance gates will soon be installed as the massive frame bridging the courtyard entrance is finished. These gates will remain closed most of the time providing tranquility from the outside world. They will be opened for special events and other occasions; highlighting the flexibility this new building will provide to the community.

Gallery floors installed!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The hardwood gallery floors are being installed in the third-floor gallery spaces.

Galleries painted.
Monday, November 9, 2009

The gallery walls consist of insulation, a layer of drywall, a layer of plywood for stronger weight-bearing walls and a second layer of drywall. They were finally ready for a layer of paint! Paint clouds the air in the first picture and the second shows the finished product.

New Crocker to open October 10.
Monday, November 2, 2009

A date of October 10, 2010 has been announced for the opening of the new Teel Family Pavilion. Read the full release and the coverage from The Sacramento Bee.

Behind the scenes of the New Crocker with KCRA.
Thursday, October 29, 2009

Go behind the scenes of the New Crocker with KCRA.

New courtyard take shape.
Thursday, October 22, 2009

Installation of the concrete that acts as a base to the courtyard's Terrazzo tile floor begins to define the space of the new Courtyard.

Tour guides tour the New Crocker.
Saturday, September 26, 2009

The Crocker's Docent Corps is a dedicated group of volunteers that lead a variety of student and adult tours and programs. They got a first look at the New Crocker during tours in September.

Atrium with a view.
Friday, September 25, 2009

Nearly 100 triple-paned windows are being installed in the wall of the striking two-story atrium. Each window has a few layers of special coatings that contain reflective qualities meant to limit the amount of heat entering the Museum.

212,893
Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Since the beginning of construction on the New Crocker, the South Facing Camera and the West Facing camera have captured over 212,893 images. You can view the images in a time-lapsed video here.

New paint for the "old" Crocker.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Sections of the historic structure are taped and covered with plastic as it receives a fresh coat of paint. Colors were inspired from the original Victorian palette and complement the materials of the new construction.

Window shopping.
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009

Spacious windows line the O Street sidewalk of the future Museum Store. Visitors can extend their Museum experience by purchasing an exhibition related object, or shop anytime during store hours for a unique gift. Museum members receive a 10% discount on Museum Store purchases.

KCRA shows us a bird's eye view.
Thursday, Aug 20, 2009

KCRA has graciously posted a series of aerial photos offering a 360 degree view of the construction site: A new wing is taking shape at the Crocker Art Museum.

Mayor Kevin Johnson tours the site.
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2009

Sacramento Mayor, Kevin Johnson tours the construction site with Museum Director, Lial Jones. The City of Sacramento has given $12M of the current $90M campaign total.

Walls Gain Substance.
Monday, August 3, 2009

Insulation is being added to some interior spaces while a layer of plywood is being added to galleries (see July 22).

Councilmembers Ray Tretheway, Rob Fong, Kevin McCarty
and Steve Cohn See the Site.
Friday, July 31, 2009

Sacramento City Councilmembers tour the construction site with Museum Director Lial Jones and Chief Curator Scott Shields. The City of Sacramento has given $12M of the current $90M campaign total.

Galleries are dry-walled.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The galleries are receiving their first layer of drywall. To ensure wall strength and proper weight-load distribution for heavy artworks that are affixed to the walls, the galleries will be covered in drywall, a layer of plywood and then another layer of drywall.

Soon to be a summer oasis.
Friday, July 17, 2009

Construction is underway for the Crocker's first water feature. This rounded rectangular wall will have water gently cascading over the side. Patrons can enjoy both the sight and sound while relaxing in the new courtyard.

First Floor Atrium Unfolds.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The first floor reception space will serve as a community gathering place for Sacramento, complete with a cafe and free WiFi access.

Windows help you find your way.
Monday, July 6, 2009

Windows were purposefully added throughout the design of the new building to help visitors find their way through the museum -- they will be able to look out and see the historic building, the new courtyard, and the existing courtyard, to find their vantage point.

Air-handlers require careful handling.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Large cranes hoisted 12 air-handler units to the roof of the new building, each weighing nearly one ton. Once placed, construction crews installed them in one eight-hour and one ten-hour shift. This industrial-sized equipment will prove crucial for maintaining the optimal temperature and humidity required to preserve the Museum's collection.

Large cranes hoisted 12 air-handler units to the roof of the new building, each weighing nearly one ton. Once placed, construction crews installed them in one eight-hour and one ten-hour shift. This industrial-sized equipment will prove crucial for maintaining the optimal temperature and humidity required to preserve the Museum's collection.

Let us show you to your seat.
Thursday, June 18, 2009

For the first time in the Crocker’s 125-year history, the Museum will have a state-of-the-art auditorium in which to show films, present concerts and host speakers. The auditorium will seat nearly 300 individuals, three times the number of our current meeting space. This graduated foundation will support theater-style seating once completed.

Office Space
Monday, June 15, 2009

On a recent walk-through, Museum staff gratefully admire the staff office space in the new building. The current Crocker was built for just one staff member, yet the Museum today employs more than 40. Without dedicated offices, staff has been separated and is looking forward to working more closely together.

Where's the bathroom?
Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The New Crocker will include two sizeable bathrooms on every floor, providing ample room to accommodate large crowds. The plumbing has already been installed.

Sacramento Press Looks on the Business Side
Friday, June 5, 2009

Read Sacramento Press' story on the economic impact of the project.

Two Walls Are Better Than One
Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Museums and hospitals are some of the most expensive construction projects given the complexity of systems required to effectively run them. Temperature and humidity control systems are central (see March 10 posting on HVAC below). Security systems are advanced. Life safety and fire safety systems are critical. Other issues that you might not necessarily think adds to the cost of museum construction is the ability to sustain tremendous weight loads. Each wall and floor must be analyzed for pound-per-inch. This image shows how two walls are aligned to make up one interior wall. Imagine supporting a 6-ton sculpture in just one corner of a gallery space.

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Clarity from Above
Monday, May 4, 2009

The architecture of the new building strives to pay tribute to the historic structure of the Crocker through numerous design elements. Here you can see how the roofline of the New Crocker respects the width and height dimensions of the historic structure. The gentle rounded corners of the North East portion suggest the rounded arches on the porch, windows and main entryways. As envisioned by the architects, the inspiration for this contemporary addition becomes clear more each day as the exterior nears completion.

Exterior Materials Go Up
Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Approximately 4,000 aluminum panels and 4,500 zinc panels will form the exterior of the New Crocker. Installation started last week and will continue through the end of the summer.

In creating the design of the new building, architect Charles Gwathmey looked to the historic gallery building to determine materials. In his interview with KXJZ's Jeffrey Callison, Gwathmey explained that the gallery building was "polychromed, which was a part of that period of animating a building's facade. [The new] building is two materials that relate back to the idea of coloring a facade. Our building is zinc, which is a pure metal that patinas over time, historic material that is slightly gray-blue, and white metal panels and granite, so that these three materials as a color code related very specifically to the intent of coloring a facade, which is what the original buildings were."

Seismic Stability
Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Steel crossbeams intersect to brace the structure during earthquakes and ground vibrations.

Rendering to Reality
Friday, April 3, 2009

The skylights located in the third floor gallery space become apparent as the framework for these light-harvesting openings become reality. The architectural rendering suggests the finished detail below.

Fireproofing Keeps the Heat at Bay
Friday, March 27, 2009

Crews are completing the final stages of fireproofing. In case of fire, the material will help deflect heat, leaving the building's steel structure intact. For the last two months, workers have been spraying the fireproofing material onto the steel structure in varying thicknesses. While the material retains its soft and foamy appearance, the texture changes to a cement-like finish after application.

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Capital Campaign Moves Through the Community
Tuesday, March 17, 2009

A group of community leaders met last week to kick-off the next phase of the Capital Campaign. They will be focused on broadening the campaign to engage the greater Sacramento community and ensuring that more people hear about the project. If you are interested in helping, please call the Campaign Office at 916.808.1175.

HVAC System Ensures a Cool New Crocker
Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Miles of copper piping and air ducts of all sizes are installed to maintain a comfortable climate for both visitors and works of art. Copper pipes carry chilled water to air duct coils, effectively lowering the temperature of the air passing through the coils. The now warm water then travels back to one of the two large cooling towers where its temperature is reduced again before entering the chiller to start the process all over again. Conditioned air circulates through the ducts to all interior spaces, while used air is drawn out to be mixed with fresh air and filtered for dust and excessive humidity before circulating through the interior once again.

Mock-Up Tests Materials Before Construction
Thursday, February 26, 2009

Before a new phase of construction starts on site, materials and procedures are first given a test drive on a mock-up of the new building. The mock up is used to test for water tightness, constructability and quality control. Crews are currently testing materials for the building's exterior.

Connecting the Old and the New
Friday, February 20, 2009

Construction crews are preparing to connect the historic Gallery building with the new wing. This connection will replace the link previously established by the addition of the Herold Wing in 1969. Work has exposed portions of the original building, which was constructed in 1872 with walls up to three feet thick of solid clay brick!
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Steel Framework Rises Next to Crocker.
Monday, February 16, 2009

The steel frame of the new building is well defined now and stands next to the historic Art Gallery building.

Something to Stand On
Wednesday, December 3, 2008

This week concrete is being poured for the second floor galleries.

Topping Off
Monday, December 1, 2008

Thanksgiving came one day early at the Crocker as donors, staff, construction crew and the media gathered to celebrate the final beam being lifted into place with a “Topping Off” ceremony last Wednesday. After remarks by Sacramento’s new Mayor Kevin Johnson, Campaign Co-Chair Marcy Friedman invited attendees to sign their names to the beam before it became a piece of the New Crocker and they could forever be an insider to the Museum. The rain didn’t dampen spirits and the crowd cheered as the beam was raised and bolted into place.

Photos by Justin Short and Bridget Keane

New Herold Wing Outlined in Steel
Monday, November 3, 2008

Every hour, progress can be seen in the steel framework. At the back of the historic E.B. Crocker Art Gallery Building, the first and second floors of the new Herold Wing are complete.

Expansion Goes Vertical
Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The majority of construction has occurred below ground until now. The first of 175 truckloads of steel began arriving last week and the steel superstructure which will use 1,400 tons of steel has already begun to take shape!

Associate Director Scott Shields Talks Expansion
July 2008

Watch associate director Scott Shields discuss the expansion on News10's Sacramento & Co.

Expansion Featured in Sacramento Union
Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Click to read the Sacramento Union's coverage of the Crocker Expansion.

Auditorium Taking Shape Below Ground
June 2008

Structural work for the auditorium continues, including excavation, grading and rebar installation.

Contemporary Artwork Donation from AT&T Will Be Featured in New Building
April 23, 2008

The Crocker Art Museum unveiled today two artworks by acclaimed artists Jennifer Bartlett and Barbara Rogers generously donated from AT&T to the museum’s permanent collection. Pacific Ocean, oil on canvas, by Jennifer Bartlett and Renee and Nehemiah, acrylic on canvas, by Barbara Rogers, are both important contemporary works that strengthen the Crocker’s permanent collection.

“We are thrilled to receive these paintings from the AT&T collection,” said Lial A. Jones, Museum Director, Crocker Art Museum. “Jennifer Bartlett and Barbara Rogers are influential contemporary artists that add depth and monumental size to the collection. Pacific Ocean is the largest painting in the collection and will be hung prominently in our new building scheduled to open in 2010.”

Read the full press release.

Latest News: 2008-2009 | 2007