Brunnier museum reopens next month

Drywall workers lower a piece for trimming near the front "wall" of the Brunnier Art Museum. Beyond the glass wall is the Scheman Building second-floor lobby. Photo by Christopher Gannon.

A $1.95 million renovation of the Brunnier Art Museum is nearly complete following a 20-month closure for planning and construction. The changes include an all-glass entrance to the museum from the Scheman Building's second-floor lobby, expanded exhibition space, modern storage vault for the collections, new heating-cooling system and reconfigured office space for University Museums staff.

The 20,000-piece Brunnier Art Museum collection was moved to the renovated storage vault this summer. Each piece was cleaned and shelved by category, a process that took staff and volunteers nearly two weeks. Submitted photo.

To celebrate the transformation, University Museums will host a reopening event on Sept. 19, the 44th anniversary of the Brunnier Art Museum. Attendees at the Beyond The Glass gala will have a first opportunity to see the renovated space, enjoy three new exhibitions and be a part of a new public art installation. The Lori A. Jacobson Gallery also will be dedicated. The gala begins at 7 p.m. in the second floor lobby and is free and open to the public.

Beginning Sept. 20, the museum will be open seven days a week when Iowa State is in session; weekdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and weekends 1-4 p.m.