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By Bill Altreuter

There's been more than a little bit of snark in the air about the new Burchfield-Penny Art Center. Actually, people have been complaining about it for a few years. A lot of the bitching has to do with the fact that the museum presents a blank wall towards Elmwood Avenue. It is true that things like parking garages and similar structures are poor urban design because they do not invite pedestrians and passersby in, but this argument is somewhat misplaced in the case of the Burchfield-Penny because this structure is located on a college campus. The entrance-- the front of the building-- faces in towards the campus quadrangle, and I think that's how it should be. The carping critics also overlook the fact that as presently situated the museum avoids having a big, barren parking lot in front, the way the Albright-Knox does.

I suspect that the complaining will fade once people have an opportunity to see the part of the structure that matters. The Burchfield people kindly let us do a fashion shoot for Spree there over the weekend, and I'd like to be among the first to tell you that this is spectacular space. The attention to detail is jaw dropping-- it is one of the most attractive new buildings I can recall seeing. The Burchfield-Penny was not really one of my favorite arts attractions in Western New York, but now it will be. This is a major, major addition to our cultural life here in Buffalo, and will seriously enhance the city's reputation as an arts destination. The people who put the work in to make this possible deserve to be stopped and thanked whenever you see them at Wegmans or wherever, because this is going to be like adding another Albright-Knox to our city.

Full post as published by Outside Counsel on September 09, 2008 (boomark / email).