Right now, the Burke Museum on the University of Washington's campus can be best described as warren of isolated offices, obsolete exhibit areas, and out of date facilities. Hence, that's why they're calling in the big guns to build a new one. Designed by Tom Kundig of Olson Kundig Architects and built by Skanska, a new 110,000 square-foot facility is in the early design stages and presenting plans to the design review board this evening. The new Burke Museum will include areas facilitate educational and public programs, space for food operations and retail (public cafe, a small store, a catering kitchen and storage for large events) and the obligatory exhibit areas. Currently home to a 10,000-year-old mastodon and a recently-discovered mammoth tusk called LuLu, the 53-year-old facility is still in the midst of raising funds for construction, which is expected to take at least two years, beginning in late 2015.
· 4331 Memorial Way NE [Seattle.gov]
· They're building a new home for Seattle's mastodon [PSBJ]