Last week, North Texas media (and me) got one of the first looks inside the new Perot Museum of Nature & Science during a hard hat tour and construction update provided by Prtizker Prize winning architect Thom Mayne, Museum CEO Nicole Small and other Museum leaders. I was invited because Nicole Small discovered photos I had posted on my site when I first spoke about the project (here). She got word to the company handling the PR for the project and had my name added to the “media” list. (Thanks Nicole!)
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When I went on site for the tour, I had no idea that architect Thom Mayne from Morphosis was going to be on hand to talk about the project. I’m not much for star gawking (yes, in my world, Thom Mayne is a star) but I found myself at a complete loss for words. Most of the people on the tour were not architects – in fact, I might have been the only one – I was thinking “I need to represent!” I found myself standing next to T-Mayne for most of our time together but I didn’t say much. He asked me who I was, I told him I was an architect and how I came to be on a tour with a group of reporters. Now that he knew I was an “us” and not a “them”, he started to talk to me about all sorts of things about the building … until the docent running the tour told me I needed to catch up with my group … like NOW!! But my new BFF T-Mayne made me pinky swear that I would keep some things secret (wink) for now.
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Most of our time was spent walking around just a few areas within the building – most of the pictures I took from this tour were taken as I was being hustled from one space through another. This was a very active job site and I could understand why they were protective of where we could go … probably something to do with “we don’t want any of you to get run over by a giant back-loader.” I wasn’t really listening, I was trying to take a picture that would have me AND T-Mayne in it at the same time.
Before anybody starts (or continues) to confuse me with the actual media, I am just going to let you look at some of the pictures I took. This is the first time they have allowed anybody to come on-site and take photos on the interior … these are fresh-cutting edge-behind the scenes photos here people!! Where else are you going to get to see this?
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The $185-million Perot Science & Nature Museum, designed by Mayne and his California-based firm Morphosis, has been described by The Dallas Morning News architecture critic Scott Cantrell as “The boldest piece of modern architecture to hit Dallas.” Eye-catching and unusual, the building is under construction at the corner of Woodall Rodgers Freeway and Field Street in Dallas’ Victory Park. The project is slated to open in early 2013.
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Great article! I am literally laughing out loud at some of your comments. I can only hope that there will be future adventures and pinky swears between you and T-Mayne!
Bob,
Thanks for the article and photos. This piece of architecture will extend the interest of others as the Arts District added a welcomed spark to the Dallas modernism movement.
Best,
Jim Ashmore
Way to ‘represent’ for all the architects out there Bob! It’s great to see some pics of the interior of the project. It looks like the light-gauge metal framers are having some fun on a job for a change – the skeleton of the curving plane above the escalator is crazy fun.
Great bunch of pictures Bob. FYI, The Building Enclosure Council of Dallas (BEC-Dallas) is having a presentation on the Perot Science and Nature Museum on February 22 at the AIA-Dallas Center for Architecture. Aleksander Tamm-Seitz, the project designer at Morphosis, working directly with Pritzker Prize-winning Architect Thom Mayne on this magnificent building will be making a presentation on the design, fabrication, and installation of the building facade. Please come.George Blackburn
I was contacted regarding that presentation to see if some of my photos could be used (the answer was yes) but my evenings are so full that it is hard for me to get away.
Who knows, the presentation does sound really great … maybe I can work something out.
Cheers, and thanks for commenting.
What a fantastic opportunity… Great images- thanks for sharing!
Thanks Lauren, this was one of the occasions where I felt having this site really opened some doors for me.
I appreciate the comment
Finally, a building to distract us from that green-lighted skyscraper downtown. Love the photos, thansk for sharing.
my pleasure, I wish the photos were better but I have limited skill under ideal conditions and these were taken on the fly (of course, I can’t have people in them if I can help it – right?)
I know the feeling -these are OUR celebrities! Looks like a really interesting project -I hope you bring us the finished version here with your great photos!
Me too! Thanks for taking the time to comment Stefan, I appreciate it.
At first I thought quite a difference in in this and your Texture and Color posting, but then I guess we are seeing a different ordering system.
texture – definitely
color? … not so much
We are working on a project with the landscape architect who did this project; I know what’s coming and it will be all the texture and color you could want at the pedestrian level.
wow!!!! how awesome is that! who is the RAS on that project! I am jeolous!
wait until you see the exterior landscape and pedestrian pathways – it would make your RAS head explode!