Bechtler Museum in Architecture Week
The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art was recently featured in Architecture Week.
Indian Motorcycle Wins Best Exterior Award
Wagner Murray Architects' new prototype building receives national attention:
"CHARLOTTE, NC---Mark Moses, owner and general manager of Indian Motorcycle Charlotte of Lowell, North Carolina has announced that the dealership was awarded the prestigious "TOP 100 DEALER" designation by the Dealernews magazine, the leading publication in the powersport industry. The award was presented on February 12 at a special VIP reception at the International Powersports Dealer Expo in Indianapolis.
In addition, Indian Motorcycle Charlotte won the "BEST EXTERIOR DESIGN" award for the stunning architecture of the dealership, located along I-85 at Exit 22, just a few minutes west of Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.
The awards and recognition are even more impressive when you consider that nearly 10,000 powersports dealers in the U.S. and Canada were eligible for the competition.
The Charlotte area dealership was the very first Indian dealer in the country, opening in October 2008 and has been the sales leader ever since."
-Mark Moses, Indian Motorcycle
Press Release: February 15, 2010
Best Exterior Award.
Indian Motorcycle: Lowell, NC
Link to Indian Motorcycle's Dealer Website:
Hickory Grove Public Library Opens!
The new Hickory Grove Branch library opened with great fanfare on February 6, 2010. A 16,000 square foot regional library is the first in a series of new regional libraries which are being developed by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system.
The building is a new sustainable model and incorporates a number of features that are changing the use and dynamics of the regional library concept. Heavy on IT and social and study areas, the library will support a range of ages and demographics from young children (pre-school) to senior citizens. Various program rooms have been assigned for each of these age groups.
Wagner Murray Architects also designed all of the furniture and fixtures within the library, including the Learning Tree in the Children’s Area.
Signage throughout the library describes specific sustainable and recycled features and products within the building, including ceiling, wall and floor finishes, as well as programmed controls on lighting and HVAC systems.
Library Exterior
Children and adults gather under the Learning Tree.
A universal message is broadcast to the passerby, in the library's central reading room.
Crowds gather in the library.
This pamphlet is available at the library checkout and provides a brief primer to library users and visitors on the benefits of energy efficient and sustainable design. ©Wagner Murray Architects
Further Reading:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/277/story/1168962.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/galleries/gallery/1222348.html?img=1
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art Opens!
The new Bechtler Museum of Modern Art opened on January 2nd with great fanfare. Thousands of people attended the inaugural free admission day to view the collection of Andreas Bechtler and his family. Mario Botta, the design architect for the project, was in attendance. Wagner Murray Architects is the architect-of-record for the project. As a firm, we were excited to participate in this iconic project for Charlotte, North Carolina. Andreas Bechtler, benefactor to the museum with his art collection, stated that he was delighted that Mario Botta, the renowned Swiss architect, was able to design his second building in the United States (first building, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) and that Wagner Murray Architects, a firm based in Charlotte, was able to participate in executing this commission.
Exterior view of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Crowds gather outside the museum for the grand opening
(from left to right) Michael Godfrey, curator Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, David Wagner, principal Wagner Murray Architects, John David Wagner, David Wagner’s son and architecture student at Virginia Tech and Mario Botta, design architect for the Bechtler Museum.
Further Reading:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/165/story/1155707.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/408/story/1157175.html
