I’ve been visiting the museum since I was 5 and visited the new building for the first time yesterday.
A few things stood out that seem to point to broader design choices. For example, many local schools still bring children here on field trips, so I was surprised to see how little the bathrooms accommodate younger visitors.
Other works of art featured QR codes, but the concrete structure makes it almost impossible for a phone to get service without Wi-Fi. Can you join the PU Visitor network? Yes, but only if you have already downloaded it and registered before entering the building.
The outdoor hardscaping feels similarly under-considered. A large, intrusive structure overhead and new brickwork now covers what was once a lovely courtyard. In developing this space, could it not have been shaped with more intention, perhaps by integrating natural elements rather than paving over them? Or by creating an amphitheater, or even a space where students could gather and play outdoor music? Shouldn’t an art museum make room for creativity rather than simply entombing older works?
All of this left me wondering how much “experience design” thinking informed the planning as a whole.
Inside, the galleries themselves are pleasant, and there is certainly more space, although some of it feels underutilized. I remain puzzled by the decision to include an expensive restaurant. Isn’t the University ultimately meant to serve students?
It seems this could have been approached differently. Of all buildings, it seems an art museum would warrant the most thoughtful design approach.
I’ve been visiting the museum since I was 5 and visited the new building for the first time yesterday.
A few things stood out that seem to point to broader design choices. For example, many local schools still bring children here on field trips, so I was surprised to see how little the bathrooms accommodate younger visitors.
Other works of art featured QR codes, but the concrete structure makes it almost impossible for a phone to get service without Wi-Fi. Can you join the PU Visitor network? Yes, but only if you have already downloaded it and registered before entering the building.
The outdoor hardscaping feels similarly under-considered. A large, intrusive structure overhead and new brickwork now covers what was once a lovely courtyard. In developing this space, could it not have been shaped with more intention, perhaps by integrating natural elements rather than paving over them? Or by creating an amphitheater, or even a space where students could gather and play outdoor music? Shouldn’t an art museum make room for creativity rather than simply entombing older works?
All of this left me wondering how much “experience design” thinking informed the planning as a whole.
Inside, the galleries themselves are pleasant, and there is certainly more space, although some of it feels underutilized. I remain puzzled by the decision to include an expensive restaurant. Isn’t the University ultimately meant to serve students?
It seems this could have been approached differently. Of all buildings, it seems an art museum would warrant the most thoughtful design approach.