I agree that the architect and the design could have been alot better. But that would not have come out of a more public and transparent selection process. These kinds of decisions should be made by an informed few. Toshiko Mori wasn't chosen by the public to design the Martin House Visitors' Center. She was chosen by an expert panel from a short list of invited firms that competed for the project.

If we would have had a similar process for the B-P building--i think we would have found a better architect with better ideas.

These kinds of competitions are also more effective at marketing a new cultural attraction. A design competition could be conducted in cooperation with magazine editors or architecture critics. This kind of process immediately makes the building more culturally relevant.

In today's NY Times there is a large article about the Barnes Museum in Philidelphia and their decision to hire architects Todd Williams and Billie Tsien. This doesn't just ensure a good building but it means publicity and cultural relevance.

"Not bad" seems to be what people here want to accept, and places like the B-P seem happy to oblige this tolerance for the mediocre. It's not the street-shunning, bleak exterior of this design that's most dismaying; it's the way it was handled. We may or may not have had a more enlightened design, but we could have had a fair and proper airing. But it was Old Buffalo all the way with this one, and that's not easy for me to say.

The new B-P will probably not get published in any Design magazines, text books or the NY Times. Still, the design is not bad. I'm glad that its modern at least.

I love the design. Can't wait to see it completed.

I had to laugh when I read the phrase "with the public in mind." Whether one likes the design or not, the Burchfield-Penney was completely and totally anti-public from start tio finish in their handling of this project.

The new BP is a lazy, hum drum design. The Gates Circle Tower is a boilerplate stack of glass. A wave of mediocrity rises in a city of once spacious, refined architecture. Our standards have plummeted.

o, i can't resist.

'totally anti-public from start to finish'

does that have something to do with the fact that the entire process took no time at all?

In a city that markets itself for architectual excellence and diversity of design....this building and its patrons are embarrassments to the art community and to the city...just the majority of Buffalo States 1970s Ape City.

I agree Daniel...if the AK does anything above ground...it will be like the Castellani and the B-P....a large blank wall but I believe that I heard they were going underground.

I think its very disappointing that they wont do a separate museum on the waterfront with something really bold.

I picture a museum within a museum......art museums need large blank walls and little sunlight because sunlight can damage and age artwork.....but wouldnt it be incredible if an architect created a glass sculptured Gehry extrior and a blank walled interior.

It would be an interesting comparison to look at the people in this thread that sit back and blast the new gallery and say it's all wrong and compare them with the people in the Gates Circle condo thread who villify others that don't like that tower. I would bet that they are the same people.

If you think you should have the right to change the design of this museum because of your own personal tastes, then you can't criticize those that want the tower redesigned for the same reasons.

Otherwise, take your own medicine, and deal with the design. You're not going to like everything that gets built

Why are all the detailed views of the new Burchfield-Penny Art Museum found on the gwathmey-siegal.com website identified as "Crocker Art Museum - Addition and Renovation"?

It's not a question of modern versus old; it's a question of vision, taste, and quality. I like a lot of powerful modern design--this tower is not it. And the BP is a lazy building on the exterior. Buffalo deserves better modern design than this and we should be disappointed not thrilled when we're served up leftover design.

I know alot of people that hate the B-P but are find with the Gates Circle. The gates circle isnt the compagnile or 800West Ferry but its no blue whale either. I think that people expect different standards for one in a lifetime museums than they do for residential towers and homes. SoI think your opinion is only half correct.

New museum...more complainers...I'd of left it unbuilt just to punish the crybabies.

I feel the exterior design and materials are horrendous. Pretty much exactly what I expected when I learned Gwathmey and Siegel were the architects. Some of the worst architects out there when it comes to adapting to the exterior context - and that does not mean it has to resemble neighboring buildings or can't be modern. They just have a huge track record of designing buildings that turn their backs on everything around it.

However, I had a chance to tour the inside, and I have to say, its absolutely fantastic on the interior. The program of the spaces and the flow of the building really blew me away. This is going to be a MAJOR attraction for the city. Between this gallery and the Knox, Buffalo is going to have some of the finest gallery space in the US. Additionally, the activities and functionality planned for the museum is going to engage the community like no other cultural in the region.

We have a fantastic asset about to open on our hands, its just regrettable that they completely missed the boat in creating a positive and progressive visual image for themselves.

David, the only way the Albright Knox could do that would be to build an entirely knew building in a new location such as the waterfront....perhaps as Milwaukee did with an outer harbor museum by Calatrava but rumor has it that the expansion at the Albright Knox will be additional underground space....in essence their going to expand their basement.

Expanding a basement will neither be bold nor creative nor allow the potential for bold or creative

The Albright Knox turned their back on their classical collection, the Burchfield Penny turned their back to Elmwood Ave and the now the Albright Knox instead of using their betrayal of the classsical arts to finance a new building....they will most likely expand their basement (what better metaphor can their be for a liberal elitist art community with their head up their arse than a cavernous underground brown tunnel as if one is descending into a large intestine......to which the large blank brown wall at the B-P seem to emulate quite well too!

Sack, just because Grachos says nice things about his neighbors doesn't mean that he doesn't have a higher standard for his own institution.

hmmm...Daniel Libeskind will be lecturing at the Albright on October 14th.

Victorian Homes were considered "hum drum" when everybody else on the block had the same thing. We need to appreciate our past architectural history while stepping into the 21st century. It's 2007. This is modern architecture. We should build designs that reflect the age we live in, not just continually mimic the past.

Some people need to separate out their personal preferences from what is truly good or bad architecture. Your personal preferences are irrelevent.

We should have better, more inspired designs in everything from our art museums to our water towers. I think one of the reasons that we don't is cost. I think another major reason is that many folks in Buffalo have no idea of how to access the best available practices. Its not enough to just say "we deserve better" when many don't even know what "better" looks and feels like. This is the only way that I can understand why anyone would hire someone like Carl Frizlin or insist on rebuilding old Frank Lloyd Wright ideas. There are plenty of amazing young or emerging architecture firms out there that are willing to do alot of work to get their designs realized. We first need to know this talent exists and second we need to draw them to our city.

If the Albright-Knox ever expands I think its a safe bet that they will employ either an already influential architect or an emerging one. Keep hope alive.

i don't have too many complaints about the building. Buffalo state has its art program and i think whatever they could build will be a huge benefit for the program. Some of the window placement is right on and the rest of the building is an odd, but very stately shape. I don't know if they will have the dog fighting inside or out? none the less, this is a school building, for most likely academic representational art. go figure!

of course i'm just kidding with what its going to be about. I just hope they install sprinklers for the lawn and have contests.