Alfred University, Ceramic Art Museum
Alfred University is a world-renowned center for ceramic art and engineering and was central to the American Studio Art movement. Many of it founders were based at Alfred as was the Ludowici Celadon clay tile works as recalled by local houses, garages and barns with red, clay tile roofs.
Prior to the museum, ceramic art was exhibited in a classroom building with art storage in various locations on campus. The project was begun on the site of an abandoned public school in Alfred but was moved to a central campus site occupied by an aging redundant gymnasium where the original Ludowici tile production sheds had once stood prior to being lost to fire and the company relocating to Ohio.
At the behest of the university president, the museum was to be open and inviting, providing light and animation to Main Street. Key factors were the siting need for two entries, the operational need for a single gallery control point, the topographic condition which set the gallery floor at the level of Main Street, and a budget that allowed for single flexible gallery space.
The museum is a linear organization, with an entry ramp and stair connecting to the single gallery control point. The single changing exhibit gallery is naturally lit by the glazed wall of the ramp and a channel-glass clerestory. Floor inserts provide anchorage for freestanding partitions and display cases. A linear bench surface alternatively accommodates exhibits and seating for gallery talks.
The museum is heated and cooled by a geothermal system, has full LED gallery lighting and was designed to allow an addition to double its size to accommodate permanent collections including those of private collections.