Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced a $3 million rennovation project. Chosen for the project is ESI Design, the New York design firm headed by Edwin Schlossberg, that specializes in "physical and virtual spaces for people to interact, exchange ideas and learn from each other".I had a chance to talk today with Gideon D'Arcangelo, ESI's project manager for the Rock Hall project. Although they are still in the initial planning phase, he tells me that they expect "to have arrived at (their) full vision for updating the visitor experience" by midsummer. He indicated that it's too soon to tell exactly how the Rock hall galleries and public viewing will be impacted during the rennovation.
When I asked about the goal of the rennovation project, Mr. D'Arcangelo says "the design team is unified behind one goal: to rock an already rocking visitor experience."
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in 1995 and was designed by architect, I. M. Pei to represent a record turntable when viewed from above. The galleries include interactive audio/visual exhibits on the Hall of Fame's inductees as well as hundreds of Rock and Roll artifacts and costumes.
ESI Design has done work for many other museums, including the Brooklyn Children's Museum, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Henry Ford Museum Innovation Center.
(Image © S. Mitchell; licensed to About.com)
Comments
The “ReHab” that needs to take place is NOT on the building itself!
Spend those funds to do away with the political manure that is piled up against deserving bands like the ORIGINAL Grand Funk Railroad! It smells to the High Heavens that this band (and others) is not IN the Rock Hall of Fame! Or, isn’t that the purpose for the noses in the air when we request our favorite bands be inducted?
~Suez
There are so many artists (includng the original Grand Funk Railroad, the Moody Blues, Warren Zevon the Doobie Brothers, and many others too) who are deserving of being inducted, and they still aren’t. I agree with Suez, that the rehab needs to go to changes in the nomination and induction, NOT to make changes to the building.
The first thing that they should do to the Rockhall is give grandmaster flush the boot. So many others are deserving and the induct a nobody that most people never heard of so the Rockhall can boast how politically correct they are. Quick! Name a song thast the grandmaster has done!
Please nominate AND induct Grand Funk Railroad AKA Mark, Don & Mel!
I agree with Suez. You talk about rehabilitation? Start by getting rid of Jan Wenner! Next, The Dave Clark Five should have been in The Hall yrs ago! And IMHOP the inductions ceremonies need to be in Cleveland, Ohio!
I agree with the people above. The only people I would add are Three Dog Night, the Monkees, and Alice Cooper. Why are such great bands of then kept out because 1 person has a personal grudge against them? The system stinks!!!!!!!! And the band mentioned above,Grandmaster Flush? I ask around to people here, and not one, not ONE had even heard of them! Why do we not have such great bands in and then you induct such people that no one has even heard of, much less know what they sing? Forget the physical renovation, turn the firehose on the inside and do a complete house cleaning.
I’ve been to the RRHF and it was a complete waste of money. Oh look at that, it’s an outfit that George Clinton wore when he was with Funkadelic..Give me a break. INDUCT DEEP PURPLE!!
The most influincial band of not only the 1970’s, but for all time was Grand Funk Railroad. It “STINKS REAL BAD” that this great band is ignored. In fact, it is shameful.
Refurbishing the building is not the priority here. The attitude of the stiffs here is what needs a makeover.
The rock hall is a joke! It is pointless to mention all the great acts that have been PURPOSELY OMITTED!
Re-hab the administration!