Minister hosts media tour of The Rooms construction site

Julie Bettney, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today hosted a media tour of The Rooms and provided an update on the construction of the building. The Rooms has a construction budget of $47 million and will open to the public in 2004. It will house the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador, Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador.

"The Rooms is evidence this government recognizes the significant value of the arts and heritage to Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Bettney. "We are building a world-class facility which will increase our ability to exhibit and store the invaluable artifacts, art and archival materials of this province."

The Rooms will bring together the museum, archives and art gallery into one multi-purpose facility while maintaining their individuality. The design concept for The Rooms pays tribute to the traditional lifestyle and unique language of the province. "Rooms" were those buildings on the shoreline where fish was processed and where nets and other fishing equipment were stored.

"The design is an architectural statement unique to our place and peoples of the Northwest Atlantic," said Minister Bettney. "This building is truly an architectural and cultural masterpiece. On its own design merits, it will become one of the world�s architectural tourism buildings of interest."

The construction of the 150,000-square-foot building also reflects tradition and available products in the province. The roof is a red metal that borrows from the surrounding buildings and is a traditional colour for roofs in Newfoundland and Labrador. Newfoundland red birch will be used for the flooring on many of the gallery spaces. Some 8,000 metres of concrete and 1,300 tons of reinforcing are being used enabling the structure to hold the province�s extensive collection of artifacts and archives. The solid forms of the building - the "stores" - are wheat-coloured masonry units which reflect the colour of fields in summer. The interior is made of Newfoundland and Labrador granite and glass, concrete and steel.

"Through the use of concrete and steel we are ensuring the strength of the building," said Minister Bettney. "We are also employing state-of-the-art air quality and handling systems to protect the artifacts, artwork and archives."

The elements that contribute to the unique design and construction of The Rooms will also maintain the integrity of the archaeology of the site. Unearthed at the site are portions of the Grand Battery Wall and other features of the original Fort Townshend which dates back to the late 1700s when this region played a significant role in the defense of British North America. These remains were excavated, recorded, then covered over to protect them during the construction.

"Once the archaeology level is complete, visitors to The Rooms will be able to view the fort remains and hear the stories attached to this piece of our history," said Minister Bettney. "At this level we will document the history of the site. It will include the history of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and the province�s contribution to war and peacekeeping efforts."

While the actual construction of The Rooms can be followed by the progress being made at the site, there is much happening behind the scenes in preparation for the building�s completion and the move of the three institutions to this location. Museum and art gallery curators, archivists and associated technical staff, are working with two advisory committees, artists, exhibit designers, writers, conservators, historians and archaeologists to develop the expanded and exciting exhibits and archival services to be available at The Rooms.

"This process has allowed us to build on and expand our knowledge and expertise in cultural resource management," said Minister Bettney. "Our cultural professionals are very excited about the opportunities The Rooms presents."

Minister Bettney said she looks forward to welcoming visitors to the completed building. "Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and visitors from around the globe will be in awe of the building and the history and the talent it will present," the minister said. "It will be a showcase for our rich cultural heritage."

Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

The Rooms will provide the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador with significantly more space to showcase artists from this province and elsewhere. With 10,000 square feet of gallery space for permanent collections and travelling exhibits, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador will see a much more diverse program of local, national and international art.

With increased curatorial staff, the art gallery will mount a vigorous program of temporary exhibitions, largely of contemporary art but with a historical dimension as well. Its increased research capacity already is leading to more awareness of historical art related to the province. There also will be the opportunity to host major traveling exhibits which currently bypass the province.

In addition to borrowing international exhibitions, the art gallery will develop international projects on its own or with others. To explore island culture in the visual arts, it already has jointed two other significant island-based Canadian galleries, Confederation Centre for the Arts in P.E.I. and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, to explore opportunities. To date, a national touring show and an exchange with Tasmania are planned.

Between its fledgling collection and Memorial University�s collections, which it manages and uses, the art gallery has 5,500 works of contemporary, historical and folk art and has begun to collect fine craft as well. Along with the additional space for permanent collection display, The Rooms will provide the art gallery with expanded storage space for its full collection and for anticipated growth over the next 10 years.

The art gallery�s goal is to enable the people of the province and visitors to experience a broad range of art and to find meaning and pleasure in it. New staff already have expanded educational and public programming. A studio-classroom, the shared multi-media theatre and other resources in The Rooms will enhance gallery education. For example, the art gallery will create an on-line art education "magazine" for teachers. A somewhat unusual inclusion is an artist-in-residence studio for local and visiting artists who will do their own work and take part in education programs.

The art gallery�s move to The Rooms with the other two institutions, the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador, will create remarkable opportunities for collaboration in a unique cultural facility.

The Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador has room for 40 researchers at its current home at the Colonial Building. However, when it moves into The Rooms in 2004, that capability will double to 80 with a 4,600 square feet reference room. This will be beneficial to the legal professionals, writers, artists, genealogists, film makers, historians and the general public who use the provincial archives for research and photo opportunities on a regular basis. The Rooms will also offer 8,000 square feet of collections storage and processing space. There will be a specially designed exhibit area, as well as shared use of classroom space, darkroom facilities and multi-media auditorium. The Rooms will provide space for specialized storage for photographic collections. This new facility allows the provincial archives to provide public programming and outreach to enhance the profile and understanding of the value of our documented heritage.

An important component of the provincial archives mandate is to preserve those records of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador deemed to have legal, fiscal and evidential or research value, as well as any records from private sources which have enduring value to the history and culture of the province, regardless of their physical form or characteristics. Among the items in its collections, the provincial archives has the largest international Grenfell collection in the world. Other items include 400,000 photographs, 50,000 maps, records and diaries of colonial secretaries, governors and prime ministers, post-Confederation government records, and merchant and business records of the colony and country. Among recent acquisitions, the provincial archives has obtained the records of the St. John�s Women�s Centre, the papers of Governor Sir Walter Davidson and microfilm copies of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Service Records from World War I.

The provincial archives is committed to preserving Newfoundland and Labrador�s archival records, maps and film footage for its on-site and distance clients from the rest of the province, Canada, the United States and even Europe. In client survey results, most clients indicated they were satisfied with the current service, however the results indicated that clients are interested in increased on-line service, interested in educational sessions as well as a more conducive physical environment. These are all items which the move to The Rooms will provide. As well, the provincial archives will be able to offer researchers digitization and online search capacity.

Along with describing its collections in preparation for the move to The Rooms, the provincial archives is planning a number of education activities including thematic "edu-kits" and a generic package on the value and the uses of archives. Together with the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador, cooperative work in developing and enhancing schools programming in ongoing. School children/youth is a significant audience shared by all three Rooms partners and strategic focus is necessary to work effectively with this audience.

The move to The Rooms will see the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador gaining triple the current exhibit space in its building on Duckworth Street. These permanent exhibits will occupy a total of 13,450 square feet on three floors, presenting the provincial museum�s diverse human and natural heritage, as well as the Fort Townshend archaeology level which will cover 17,000 square feet. This full program of permanent exhibits will be developed in a phased approach, with the first phase of exhibits to be opened in 2004. An additional 2,200 square feet will be available for traveling exhibits. The Rooms will also provide the provincial museum with 5,000 square feet of state-of-the-art on-site collections storage.

The provincial museum is responsible for managing the provincial museum system, including the headquarters in St. John�s, the Southern Newfoundland Seamen�s Museum in Grand Bank, and the Mary March Regional Museum and Loggers� Life Provincial Museum in Grand Falls-Windsor. The provincial museum houses the provincial collection of archaeology, ethnology, history and natural history artifacts and specimens. It provides educational activities, outreach and travelling exhibits while also providing research opportunities for scientists, scholars and the interested public. The provincial museum contributes important conservation and exhibit support to the provincial historic sites and to the Labrador Interpretation Centre.

In its ongoing mandate to develop and to share knowledge of our North Atlantic environment and of the history of its peoples, the provincial museum is steward for the provincial collection of artifacts and specimens. This includes over one million archaeological items relating to the ancient peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador, including the largest Beothuk collection in the world. The collection also has over 25,000 ethnology and history artifacts including an important collection of World War I material. The extensive natural history collection has over 100,000 specimens, including internationally significant "voucher" specimens that document benchmarks in the scientific identification of species.

The move to The Rooms will allow the provincial museum to continue building on its partnerships with the Labrador Inuit Association, Innu Nation, Miawpukek First Nations and Federation of Newfoundland Indians, as well as developing its outreach to other cultural communities. This will provide a broader presentation of the province�s cultural diversity for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The permanent exhibits are being developed with the support of an external advisory committee which includes representative subject area specialists and user groups from across the province.

The move will also provide the provincial museum with workrooms for visiting researchers, classrooms and public programming capacity. As future stewards of our heritage, school children and youth are particularly important members of the museum�s audience. The provincial museum is working with the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador, to develop and enhance school and youth programming. The Rooms will be an excellent facility to preserve our art, archives and artifacts according to international standards and make them available to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and to the world.

The Rooms will have a unique archaeology level for this cultural centre. A great deal of care and planning was put into incorporating the Fort Townshend military site into the grand scheme of The Rooms. The area will feature an 8,000 square foot exhibit on the military history of the province and on the history of the Fort Townshend site and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. The Fort Townshend site was constructed during the late 19th century to enhance a defense system that protected Britain�s interests in the prosperous and profitable Newfoundland fishery.

An archaeological impact assessment was undertaken prior to the development of The Rooms to determine mitigative measures which would mutually balance the project development and the archaeological research goals. These options include various combinations of project design, site protection or preservation measures, as well as the different intensities and approaches to systematic data and information recovery and resource removal.

A strategy was developed that not only intensified recording for research purposes but also enhances the potential for interpretation. Archaeological excavation was expanded well beyond the original terms of reference in order to learn as much as possible about the existing features and their relationship to the site as a whole. The expanded archaeology uncovered features in their entirety. They were fully recorded by conventional methods and, in the case with the Grand Battery Wall, by state-of-the-art technology using digital photography.

Because some of the intact remains were of good quality and condition, the footprint of the building was re-designed to accommodate them. These features will eventually be stabilized and form an integral part of interpretation at the archaeology level.

Early decisions were made to avoid conflict of the new building with the remains of Fort Townshend wherever possible. Instead of standard excavation and pouring a concrete basement, the first floor was elevated over the archaeological level on pillars. Although some of the pillars and foundation walls would necessitate some dismantling of features, the guiding principle has been the pursuit of balance. If significant archaeological features were encountered, then significant effort to protect and preserve these features by redesigning the construction plan was pursued.

A total of 26, 18th and 19th-century structures and/or features were uncovered and recorded. Currently, all features such as the Grand Battery Wall, Artillery Barracks, and the Ramp are sandbagged and covered in fine gravel to ensure they remain stable. Any cut stones which were removed have been numbered and removed to a secure storage area. More than 90,000 artifacts have been cleaned, conserved and catalogued. A selection of these will be presented with the interpretation of the archaeology level.

Project Schedule Milestones

• Announcement - December 1999
• Pre-design Construction - February 28, 2000
• Initial Archaeological Investigation - October 30, 2000
• Concept Design Construction - March 30, 2000
• Underground Utilities Complete - October 7, 2000
• Partial Foundation Completed - March 13, 2001
• Main Building Contract Awarded to Olympic Construction - May 18, 2001
• Construction Begins - June 30, 2001
• Exhibit Design Contract Awarded - June 2002
• Civil and Landscaping Tender - October 30, 2002
• Substantial Completion - August 30, 2003
• Exhibit Construction Begins - May 2003
• Landscaping Completion - August 30, 2003
• Facility Occupancy - December 31, 2003
• Exhibit Installation - January to March, 2004
• Warranty Inspection - August 30, 2004

When families visit The Rooms for the first time during the opening season of 2004 they will find not just an innovative and inviting piece of architecture housing three familiar institutions � The Provincial Museum, The Provincial Archives and the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador � but an impressive new resource designed to meet visitor's needs. Their experience of The Rooms will start when they approach the building and discover the historical significance of the site. Signs and interpretative panels will explain the long history of the site and encourage visitors to discover the archaeological treasures of Fort Townshend beneath them. The basement level of The Rooms will allow visitors to experience the fort as it would have been in 1780.

On the four above-ground floors of The Rooms there will be a heady mix of the cultural riches of the province. On level three for example, visitors can view a permanent exhibit from the museum, consult archival materials in the Reference Room of the archives, or take in a temporary exhibit from the art gallery. Visitors will also enjoy amenities shared by the institutions: a gift shop on level one with a selection of art, craft and gift items, the 180-seat multimedia auditorium on level two, and a full-service restaurant on the roof top. The Rooms will be wheelchair accessible, a fact that will be appreciated by visitors with mobility challenges � especially since the museum and archives have been housed in historic properties that were not accessible.

Visitors will not be able to overlook that although the three institutions are in one building each has expanded exhibition halls that suit their own mandates and collections. Both the art gallery and the museum will have dedicated space for traveling exhibitions, which offer returning visitors a changing menu of sights and stimulation. Moveable walls, flexible lighting arrangements and state of the art humidity and temperature controls within the exhibition halls mean that both cultural venues will be able to attract exhibitions from major institutions with the most stringent requirements.

The provincial museum will greet visitors with 12,400 square feet of permanent exhibit galleries telling the story of Newfoundland and Labrador's people and environment. It is a tale of convergence of natural elements and of how generations of resourceful people are connected to this environment and each other � a story of people shaped by life in this place. Behind the scenes, expanded office and meeting rooms, conservation, laboratory, storage and collections areas will create an inviting work environment for staff and visiting researchers, be they interested members of the public � who have made an appointment to examine an artifact from the museum's permanent collection � or international scholars. Education areas will provide specially equipped classroom space for large and small group programs.

In its new Reference Room, the provincial archives will be able to host almost twice the number of researchers it currently does in the Colonial Building. On site storage and processing areas, housing easily accessible materials, will have tripled. School groups will have appropriate visiting spaces for the first time. A separate audio visual and microfilm reference room will provide quieter and more effective use of research space for archives clients. Advanced climate, fire and security controls will accommodate fragile collections. Equipped darkrooms and computer lab facilities will offer increased programming opportunities for the public and other clients of the provincial archives. And in a specially designed exhibit hall, visitors can look forward to more archival displays drawn from the resources of the provincial archives.

Visitors to The Rooms will be able to discover a new aspect of the art gallery on every level of the building. In addition to the art-related items for sale in the gift shop there will be an art rental facility on level one as well as a studio classroom for hands-on activities for school groups, family day fun, child and adult art workshops. Using the Collections Centre on level two, schools and visiting researchers can make appointments to see artworks that aren't on display. And on the same level, there will be an artist-in-residence studio that will give the public a first hand opportunity to see art being made by a visiting artist. On level three, the art gallery will display its temporary exhibitions both contemporary and historic, national and international art. And on level four, it will showcase art drawn from its permanent collection. Each floor has flexible gallery spaces well-equipped for both traditional and new art forms such as digital projections and installation art. There are also natural light galleries, on levels three and four, well suited for sculpture �not to mention the stunning views of downtown and the harbour.

Tourists from across the province or across the globe, visiting scholars and researchers, or local residents � The Rooms will offer all its visitors a satisfying experience and many reasons to return.

2002 08 13                              10:30 a.m.