WCMA Hosts community Forum on Mass Timber Structure of New Museum Building Project

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) invites the community to a forum to learn more about how mass timber is reshaping the future of architecture, sustainability, and the arts at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at the Williams Inn Ballroom.
 
As the first purpose-built home for the Williams College Museum of Art takes shape, this forum invites students, faculty, professionals, and the wider community to learn about design and engineering innovations driving the project forward. 
 
Framed by this year's campus theme, "On the Log," the conversation will explore how the museum's design reflects evolving relationships between art, nature, learning, and community. 
 
The featured speakers are Kevin Lamyuktseung, Associate Principal with SO-IL, and Danielle Gray, Senior Virtual Design and Construction Manager with Consigli Construction, who will be in conversation about the design and fabrication of WCMA's mass timber structure and the upcoming process for assembling it onsite this fall. There also will be general updates on the construction project and an opportunity for the audience to ask questions.
 
The new Williams College Museum of Art is conceived to serve the college, the local community and visitors to the Berkshires. The new museum will be a space designed with students in mind, fostering a sense of belonging for campus members and the wider community, and a welcoming experience for all visitors. The building will offer substantial gallery space for showing more of the 15,000 works in the museum's collection, as well as facilities for easy access to collections for student, faculty, and visiting scholar requests, and more object study classrooms, stated a press release.
 
RSVPs are appreciated here: https://forms.office.com/e/iinmFKYrRm 
 
For more information, visit artmuseum.williams.edu.

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Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.
 
But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.
 
"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."
 
"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.
 
Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.
 
The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.
 
Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.
 
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