REPAIRS


The ICA is undergoing exterior repairs but remains open and fully activated.

Michael Lease wears many hats as the Director of Facilities and Experience Design at the ICA at VCU. Having started 7 years ago at the inception of the ICA to now leading all front of house operations, including the ICA’s cafe, retail, auditorium and visitor services, Michael understands the value of creative public spaces – and the importance of ensuring these spaces are available for generations to come. In Michael’s own words, “The ICA has more in common with sculpture than it does with other buildings” – the ICA like a sculpture, changes as a visitor’s proximity to it shifts, and throughout the day its exterior is affected by light, encouraging the onlooker to be aware of their body as they move past and throughout the space.There is great importance in taking care of the “sculpture” so it can be used for future students, artists, and faculty which is why you may see some repairs on the exterior of the building in the coming weeks.

We sat down with Michael to further discuss these changes and how the ICA is committed to preserving the future of the space:

Q: What is going on with the building?
Michael: You may have noticed stains on the exterior of the building for the last year or two. Unfortunately, dirt buildup from the nearby intersection combined with drainage from rainwater stained the zinc panels that cover the exterior of the ICA.

Q: Are you closed during the repairs?
Michael: Nope! The ICA is open for regular operating hours and will continue to show exhibitions, host programs and welcome the public to our cafe.

Q: What is being done to fix the staining?
Michael: VCU has hired contractors to remedy this issue. Starting on March 11 a team began cleaning and then sealing the panels. The purpose of this work is to restore the panels to the original design enhance the ICA’s appearance, and protect the surfaces from future staining. The work is scheduled to end by mid-April.

Q: What will be used to clean the panels?
Michael: Earlier this year, it was determined that the best way to clean the panels was with lemon juice, dish soap, and a cotton towel. We needed a process that was relatively mild but still able to lift off the major stains. Lemon juice cleans by producing hydrogen gas that gets between the dirt and the zinc, helping lift the particulates out of the zinc. This nontoxic cleaning process is safe for our environment.

Q: Will you have to do this again?
Michael: Following the cleaning, the contractor will seal the panels with a water based sealer. This will keep the panels from staining.

Q: Why spend time on this right now?
Michael: The ICA is a gateway between the City of Richmond and VCU. It is also at the busiest intersection of the city. We want to put our best face forward when welcoming our community, students and artists.

Q: What can I expect to see on the outside of the building in the next few weeks?
Michael: Between now and the first week of April, you can expect to the see scaffolding, boom, and atrium lifts being used by the contractors to reach every panel on the ICA. Depending on the area they are working, entry to the ICA may be re-routed. Please keep an eye out for signage directing you to the safest way inside. You’re also likely to see me overseeing the work, and making certain visitors can safely enter the ICA. Please stop by say hello, and let me know what questions you have!

ARCHITECTURE

Designed by Steven Holl Architects, the ICA’s Markel Center is an iconic new landmark for the City of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University. This unique structure is located at one of the most prominent crossroads in Richmond, the corner of Broad and Belvidere streets, just off of Interstate 95, creating an unforgettable gateway between city and campus. The Markel Center is a LEED Gold-Certified building. 

AWARDS

2018 Architizer Project of the Year

2018 Architizer A+ Award Winner, Concepts – Plus-Architecture + Engineering Category

2018 Golden Hammer Award Winner – Best Placemaking

The 40,890 sq ft building has a double front: one side opening from the city, the other from the sculpture garden to the Forum, linking city and campus. On the ground level the café opens directly onto the sculpture garden. Pivot doors allow opening events to spill out into the garden. Paved in bluestone gravel, the garden is planted with gingko trees (one of the most ancient species). A large reflecting pond shapes the sense of this garden as a “thinking field.”

The building is organized in four galleries, each with a different character. Flexibility allows for four separate exhibitions, one continuous exhibition, or combinations. Galleries can be closed for installations without affecting the circulation to the others. One can begin the sequence through the four galleries by taking the oversized elevator to the top and circling down, or by beginning at the lower gallery and moving up, allowing for a host of ever-changing perspectives

To achieve LEED certification, great care has been paid to incorporate environmentally friendly systems and resources whenever possible, including the use of geothermal wells for heating and cooling the building, three green roofs to absorb stormwater and maximize insulation, and glass walls designed to exhaust heat in the summer and harness it in the winter. All of this will ensure lower operating costs, less environmental impact and a healthier environment for those using the facility.

MOBILE TOUR: ARCHITECTURE

No time for a guided tour but want more info? Listen in as ICA staff, artists, experts, and other interesting folks share their thoughts and unique perspectives about our exhibitions and architecture.

LISTEN

STEVEN HOLL

Named by Time magazine as America’s Best Architect, Steven Holl has a unique design sensibility for “buildings that satisfy the spirit as well as the eye.” He’s recognized for his ability to blend space and light with great contextual sensitivity and to use the unique qualities of each project to create a concept-driven design. He also specializes in projects with particular cultural and historic importance.

Holl was born in 1947 in Bremerton, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington and pursued architecture studies in Rome in 1970. In 1976, he attended the Architectural Association in London and established his firm in New York City. He is also a tenured Professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture and Planning and has lectured and exhibited widely and has published numerous texts.

 

STEVEN HOLL ARCHITECTS

Steven Holl Architects was selected to design the VCU Institute for Contemporary Art from a pool of 63 competing architecture firms from around the world.

Based in New York City and Beijing, this renowned firm has created architectural works nationally and overseas. The firm has extensive experience in the arts (including museum, gallery and exhibition design), as well as campus and educational facilities, residential work and master planning. They’ve designed memorable structures for museums around the world including Kiasma: The Finnish Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki; The Herning Museum of Contemporary Art, Denmark; the Cité de l’Océan et du Surf in Biarritz; and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, named by Time magazine as the “#1 Architectural Marvel of 2007” and called “one of the best buildings of the last generation” by the New Yorker.

PROJECT TEAMS

Architect: Steven Holl Architects, BCWH Landscape Architect: Michael Boucher Landscape Architecture MEP Engineer: ARUP, Ascent Consulting Engineers LEED Consultant: Sustainable Design Consulting Civil Engineer: Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Structural Engineer: Robert Silman Associates Lighting Consultant: L’Observatoire International AV/IT/Security Systems Design: Convergent Technologie Theater Consultant: Theater Consultants Collaborative, Inc. Elevator Consultant: Jenkins & Huntington, Inc. Food Service Consultant: Foodservice Consultants Studio Code Consultant: Aon Fire Protection