three firms compete to design berkeley art museum

the site of the proposed berkeley art museum includes the former university of california press building

after announcing toyo ito’s plans for the berkeley art museum will no longer go ahead in late 2009, the university of california have selected 3 new firms to compete to design a new space for the berkeley art museum and pacific film archive.

this week it was revealed that ann beha architects of boston, diller scofidio + renfro of new york and tod williams billie tsien architects of new york will challenge each other for the project and the winning architect will be announced later this year.

in 2006 the university had employed japanese architect toyo ito and associates to design the new building, however they stated that they will no longer go ahead with ito’s plans due to the economic climate.

the site includes the 48 000 square foot formerly occupied university of california press building, which will also be incorporated in the plan. construction is due to be complete in 2014.

site plan of the proposed new museum