Local Architects to Design New Computer Museum History Center At NASA Ames

New Center Promises to be a Silicon Valley Landmark

Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis (EHDD) of San Francisco, Calif., will design The Computer Museum History Center building in the proposed NASA Research Park at Ames Research Center and Van Sickle & Rolleri (VSR) of Medford, N.J., will design the exhibits for the new museum. Groundbreaking is planned for the fall of 2003 and grand opening is scheduled in 2005.

``The Computer Museum History Center has a unique mission to preserve the history of the information revolution, using authentic artifacts and stories collected around the world,'' said Len Shustek, chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Computer Museum History Center. ``We now have the architecture and exhibition team to move us closer to our permanent home.''

``After an intensive selection process that narrowed it down to three world class firms, we chose EHDD to design the permanent home of The Computer Museum History Center,'' said John Toole, executive director & CEO of The Computer Museum History Center. ``It's exciting to be working with their compelling and creative designs to embody our vision to preserve computing history. In addition, Van Sickle & Rolleri offers an outstanding team of experienced museum exhibition design professionals and complements an outstanding team.''

The Computer Museum History Center began its selection process for the architect in November 2000, soliciting proposals from top architecture firms around the world. In February 2001, the museum selected three finalists, Michael Maltzan Architecture of Los Angeles, Calif., William Donough + Partners of Charlottesville, Va., and Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis of San Francisco, Calif., to participate in a five month workshop-oriented ideas competition.

``The purpose of the competition was not to choose a design for the new building, but to select the best architect for the project going forward,'' said Grant Saviers, trustee and building committee chairman of The Computer Museum History Center. ``All three firms made an outstanding effort, making our decision all the more difficult.'' The museum's website (www.computerhistory.org) has excerpts from the architecture ideas competition.

``We are thrilled to work with The Computer Museum History Center board and staff to design one of the first Silicon Valley landmarks of the 21st Century,'' said Chuck Davis, senior design principal, EHDD. ``Our goal is to capture the unique character of The Computer Museum History Center and create an inspiring environment where people can learn and study computing history and innovation.''

EHDD, founded in 1946 by legendary architect Joseph Esherick, has become a leader in the architecture industry, with a wide breadth of cultural institution experience including aquariums, museums, zoos and libraries. EHDD has already designed recognized facilities such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, the National Museum of Marine Biology/Aquarium in Taiwan, the Exploris Children's Museum in Raleigh and the East Wing of The New England Aquarium in Boston.

For the exhibition design, museum officials solicited eight experienced museum exhibition design firms from across the country, interviewed five of them and selected VSR to develop and design the museum's exhibitions. ``We look forward to working on this most prestigious project,'' said Dennis Van Sickle, principal of VSR, who recently completed work on the Experience Music Project in Seattle, Wash. ``The time has come to create a museum that captures the rich stories of an industry that has truly changed the world.''

About The Computer Museum History Center

Established in 1996 with the movement of artifacts from The Computer Museum, Boston, to Silicon Valley, The Computer Museum History Center has become the world's foremost authentic collector of artifacts and stories of computing history. A fully independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization since 1999, The Computer Museum History Center houses one of the world's largest and most comprehensive collections of computer-related artifacts including hardware, software, photos, films, videos and documents. Its collection includes over 3,000 artifacts, 2,000 films and videotapes, 5,000 photographs, 2,000 linear feet of catalogues documentation and several gigabytes of software. Objects in the collection include a replica of a Hollerith census machine, an extensive collection of computers designed by Seymour Cray, a WWII ENIGMA device, a see-through Palm Pilot, parts of MIT's Whirlwind computer and a computer-generated Mona Lisa. During construction of the new facility, exhibits are on display at the Museum's existing facility at Moffett Field. More information is available at: http://www.computerhistory.org.

About NASA Research Park

The Computer Museum History Center will be part of the planned NASA Research Park (NRP). The NRP will be a world-class shared use R&D campus with universities, industry and non-profit organizations in support of NASA's mission to conduct research, develop new technologies and pursue educational outreach programs. In July 2000, NASA initiated the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations to develop the land at Moffett Field under NASA ownership. In the proposed NRP, academic, industry and nonprofit partners hope to conduct their collaborative research and education programs with NASA. Upon the successful completion of the EIS process, a land use agreement will be signed and construction in the NRP may begin. More information is available at: http://www.researchpark.arc.nasa.gov.

About Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis

EHDD is a renowned designer of museum and exhibit related projects with more than 20 exhibit type facilities to its credit around the world. The firm also designs academic facilities of all kinds, schools, civic buildings and single-family residences. The firm has been internationally recognized with many design awards and honors, including the American Institute of Architects National Firm of the Year Award, the 1989 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal bestowed on Joseph Esherick, the Maybeck Award for outstanding achievement presented to Joseph Esherick in 1992 and the Architectural Firm Award from the AIA California Council. More information is available at: http://www.ehdd.com.

About Van Sickle & Rolleri

VSR is an exhibit design firm that specializes in developing high quality interpretive visitor experiences. VSR is recognized for its work on the Experience Music Project, Seattle, Wash.; the Gerald R. Ford Museum, Grand Rapids, Mich.; and the USS Intrepid, New York, N.Y. VSR has received several awards including the Southeastern Museum Conference Curator's Committee Exhibition Competition Award and The American Association for State and Local History Award of Merit in 2000.

Contact: The Computer Museum History Center, Silicon Valley, CA Karen Mathews, 650/604-2568 mathews@computerhistory.org

Friday, June 29, 2001
Source: Ames Research Center