Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum facts for kids
East entrance of the MSU Broad
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| Established | November 2012 |
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| Location | 547 East Circle Drive, East Lansing, Michigan |
| Type | Contemporary Art Museum |
| Collection size | 10,000+ |
| Visitors | 125,000–150,000 annually |
| Nearest parking | MSU campus parking lots 7 & 8 and the Grand River parking structure |
The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, also known as MSU Broad or BAM, is a cool museum for contemporary art. It was designed by a famous architect named Zaha Hadid. You can find it on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. It first opened its doors on November 10, 2012.
The museum often changes its art displays, so there's always something new to see. It focuses on art from around the world by artists who are just starting out or are in the middle of their careers. Many shows feature modern artists, including those studying at Michigan State University. The museum also displays special pieces from its own collection.
The MSU Broad offers hundreds of free programs for people of all ages. You can visit the galleries and attend all community events and programs without paying anything.
Eli and Edythe Broad gave the first big gift to help start the museum's art collection. Even though it's a modern art museum, it has many old artworks. These came from the Kresge Art Museum, which was MSU's old art museum before it closed. The collection has over 10,000 pieces and is still growing! It includes art from ancient times to today, from different parts of the world, and in many styles.
Some important parts of the collection include:
- Ancient Greek and Roman items
- Sculptures and pots from before Columbus came to America
- Medieval and Renaissance drawings
- Paintings by famous "Old Masters"
- American paintings from the 1800s
- Sculptures from the 1900s by artists like Alexander Calder and Jenny Holzer
- Works by modern artists like Chuck Close and Ann Hamilton
The museum mostly adds new art created after 1945 to its collection.
The MSU Broad Art Museum was even used to film parts of the movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in October 2016.
Contents
Amazing Architecture
Building Design
The Broad Art Museum was designed by architect Zaha Hadid. Its unique look comes from its steel and concrete structure, covered with pleated stainless steel and glass. The building's frame uses steel and strong concrete walls. The floors are made of polished concrete and wood in the art galleries.
The outside of the museum has a special system of folded stainless steel panels and glass. This system helps protect the building. About 70% of the museum's 46,000 square feet (4,300 m2) (which is about 4,273 square meters) is used for showing art. This includes special areas like the Education Wing.
The museum has three levels: a lower level, a main ground level, and a second level. The tallest part of the museum is about 38 feet (11.6 meters) high on the west side. It slopes down to about 24 feet (7.3 meters) on the east side. The whole design is built around a cool floating staircase. The art galleries spread out from this staircase. From the second level, you can get amazing views of both the university campus and downtown East Lansing.
Outside the museum, there's a sculpture garden near the east entrance. There's also a walking area at the west entrance. The museum also has offices and a gift shop.
Connecting with the Community
The Broad's design really focuses on connecting with the community. The art galleries and public spaces are set up to create a link between the city, its people, museum visitors, and the art itself. You can see the town and Grand River Avenue (East Lansing's downtown) from inside the museum. This creates a visual connection between the galleries, the outdoor plaza, and the city.
The museum acts like a bridge between the East Lansing community and the university campus. It has parallel doors that connect the campus to the downtown area. The floating staircase also helps connect to Grand River Avenue through a tall, two-story glass window. All the windows and openings in the building's unique pleated exterior help connect the museum, its visitors, and the surrounding environment.
Eco-Friendly Features
The museum was built with features that help the environment, earning it a special LEED certification in 2013.
- The tall windows let in lots of natural light, saving energy during the day.
- The building uses the sun's energy for both light and heat, making visitors more comfortable.
- The heating, ventilation, and cooling system is energy-efficient, which saves power and keeps everyone comfortable.
- The HVAC system and lights have sensors that turn them off when no one is around.
- The plumbing system uses less fresh water.
- The museum also has recycling stations to reduce waste.
Museum History
Kresge Art Museum
Before the Broad Art Museum was built, the art collections were kept at the Kresge Art Museum. This museum was inside Michigan State University's art department building. The Kresge Art Museum started displaying art in the 1930s. In 1959, the Kresge Art Center was built, and a space called "the Gallery" was made for art. This space was renamed the Kresge Art Museum in 1984.
When the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum was finished, the Kresge Art Museum closed for good. Thousands of artworks were put into storage. Many of these pieces from the Kresge collection were not shown again until The Broad opened its Center for Object Research and Engagement in 2023.
How the Museum Began
In 1999, a group called "Better Art Museum" was formed. Their goal was to create a new, larger museum.
On June 1, 2007, Michigan State University received a big donation of $33 million. This gift came from Eli Broad, an MSU graduate and successful businessman, and his wife, Edythe Broad, who is a philanthropist and art collector. This money was for building the new art museum and for future art shows.
The university's leaders approved building the museum. They decided to tear down an old building called the Paolucci Building to make space for it. This building had been empty since 2001 because it was hard for people with disabilities to access. It was built in 1946 and named after a faculty member, Beatrice Paolucci. It was torn down in 2008 to make way for the new museum.
The museum's design was chosen through a competition, and Zaha Hadid won. The total cost of the project was about $40–$45 million. Michael Rush became the first director in December 2010. Marc-Olivier Wahler was named the director on March 9, 2016.
Choosing the Design
After the museum was approved, many architectural firms wanted to design it. Five firms were chosen to present their ideas. The new building needed at least 26,000 square feet (2,400 m2) (about 2,415 square meters) of gallery space. This space would hold both permanent art and temporary shows. The new museum would also offer educational programs, like talks by visiting experts, seminars, and special activities for families and school groups.
On January 15, 2008, the selection committee announced that Zaha Hadid had been chosen to design the museum.
Building and Opening
Construction on the museum started on March 16, 2010. Eli Broad and Zaha Hadid attended the groundbreaking ceremony. The museum was supposed to open in April 2012, but it was delayed. It officially opened to the public on November 10, 2012. The delay was due to material delivery issues and wanting to involve students in the opening events.
The construction company, Barton Malow Company, used special building methods because of the museum's unique design. The angular outside of the museum, with its pleated stainless steel and glass, was designed to make the building look "ever-changing." It makes you curious but doesn't quite show everything inside.
Economic Impact
An economic study predicted that the museum would bring about $5.75 million each year into the local economy. This money would come from visitors spending on things like:
- Shopping and entertainment
- Food and drinks
- Transportation
- Places to stay overnight
"We fully expect to be a significant contributor to our local economic engine", said Michael Rush, the museum's first director. The report also noted that the museum "will generate new opportunities for existing businesses and potentially new businesses". It added that the museum "is likely to attract visitors with relatively high incomes, high levels of education, and tastes and preferences..."
See also
In Spanish: Museo de Arte Eli y Edythe Broad para niños
