Feature Illustration: Artist rendering of the proposed renovated ESB-MACC by Miro Rivera Architects and Tatiana Bilbao Studios.
Posted: 2-4-2022
by Art Benavidez
Austin (Travis County) — The Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) recently held a meeting, in which they detailed the expansion that will nearly double the footprint for Phase II of the city’s Emma S. Barrientos-MACC improvement project.
VBX last reported on the project in November when the city stated that expansion and renovation of the center is needed in order to adhere to the growing needs of the community.
The team headed by Heidi Tse, project manager for the joint venture of Miro Rivera Architects and Tatiana Bilbao Studios, gave an update on the schematic design for Phase II.
Juan Miro said that they envision extending the semicircular cultural center with more classrooms for children and adults, a new gallery and performance space, along with other improvements.
Landscaping is also under consideration with artist renderings showing a snake-themed lookout point and a tree-lined outdoor sculpture garden along the lakefront hike and bike trail.
“The plans and the drawings as they’re laid out increase the footprint and the ability of the MACC to really be able to serve the public in a very dynamic and hopefully adaptive way into the future,” board Chair David Goujon said.
Goujon added that the museum would be able to thrive and meet the needs of the community moving forward.
A main feature of the proposed facility update is the improvement and separation of the MACC’s outdoor zocalo, or central courtyard made up of a paved plaza that extends onto the center’s lawn next to the trail.
Under the Miró Rivera-Bilbao expansion plan, the area would be broken apart between a more defined lawn area leading into updated gallery and theater space at a lower elevation and the renovated zocalo at the level of the rest of the MACC building
According to the master plan the estimated cost for Phase II was estimated between $30 and $42.5 million with construction expected to begin this summer and be completed by the summer of 2024, with a grand opening in the fall of 2024.
In June the city entered into a $1.4 million design service agreement joint venture for the project between Miró Rivera Architects and Tatiana Bilbao Studios, out of Austin.
In September of 2020, the city entered into a $22 million agreement with the Austin office of Rogers-O’Brien to serve as the construction manager at risk.
Jaime Beaman with CasaBella Architects and Laura Toups with civil engineers Urban Design Group, both out of Austin, along with the Austin office of landscape architects Asakura Robinson led by Margaret Robinson round out the project team.
The project will also honor the prestigious Mexican design architect, Teodoro González de León, who designed the current facility.
VBX Project ID: 2017-53C9
art@virtualbx.com
