Break that Ground

Two big groundbreakings happening this Sunday:

:: In New York, the New Museum of Contemporary Art breaks ground at its future Bowery location. Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA) designed the museum as a composition of stacked boxes that slide past each other to admit light into the gallery spaces.



:: In Chicago, the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies breaks ground for its new facilIty on South Michigan Avenue, right next door to its current digs. This is the first building on the stretch of Michigan Avenue overlooking Grant Park since the area was landmarked by the city, and also the first new building on that stretch in something like forty years. The building, designed by local firm Krueck + Sexton is characterized by a folded glass facade overlooking the park.