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Records of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Project, 1989-2001

Description

Unique IDAS-1008DateBetween 4th March 1989 and 16th May 2001Date qualifiercircaFormatLoose PapersDescriptionThis series contains the records of involvement by the City of Sydney in proposals to redesign and redevelop the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in the former Maritime Services Board (MSB) building at Circular Quay West. The MCA had been housed in the MSB building since 1991.

By 1999-2000 the MCA was facing financial uncertainty, and the University of Sydney which had been providing support through the Power bequest, wished to withdraw. The State Government indicated it was unwilling to provide public funding. In April 2000 the Lord Mayor (Frank Sartor) put forward an offer to provide funding and a long term future for the MCA, through redevelopment of the site to provide for income-generating commercial space. The proposal also envisaged a cinematheque / Moving Image Centre (MIC).

The offer was conditional on the results of investigations into the feasibility of redeveloping the site, and on acceptance of the Council's redevelopment plans. It was accepted by the State Government and the MCA Director (Elizabeth McGregor) and Board.

An invitation-only architectural design competition was announced by the Lord Mayor on 25 August 2000. Results of the competition were unveiled on 1 May 2001.

The preferred design was submitted by Matthias Sauerbruch and Louise Hutton who provided two alternative schemes, one of which involved demolition of the MSB building. Other designs came from Nonda Katsilidis (two schemes), Richard Francis Jones (two schemes), Rafael Moneo and Francesco Venezia.

Public reaction to the Sauerbruch Hutton architectural proposals was largely negative, focussing on the perceived overscale, unsympathetic and commercial aspects of the designs, opposition to demolition of the MSB building, and the loss of public open space.

On 4 July 2001 the Lord Mayor announced that the City had withdrawn the rescue package. The Premier (Bob Carr) later announced that the State Government would provide funding to secure the future of the MCA and to ensure it remained at Circular Quay West.

The MCA project was highly controversial, and was extensively reported and commented on in the media. A file of newsclippings is available in the Archives (Sydney Reference Collection, research information files).
Relationship summaryCREATED BY: City Projects Division AG-0136 (01/04/2000 to 04/07/2001)
RELATED TO: Major public works and infrastructure project management AY-106 (01/04/2000 to 04/07/2001)
RELATED TO: Refurbishment and restoration of heritage buildings, structures and sites AY-17 (01/04/2000 to 04/07/2001)
RELATED TO: Planning for public spaces AY-31 (01/04/2000 to 04/07/2001) LanguageEnglish (eng)

Item

MCA project: working files: City Projects proposals including Options 1, 2 and 3

MCA project: drawings: Nation Fender Katsilidis plans and elevations

MCA project: 3D photo renditions of MCA proposal, looking across Circular Quay

MCA project: drawings: "previous schemes" (copies)

MCA project: drawings: AJC proposal

MCA project: drawings: Peddle Thorpe & Walker development May 1989 (box 2/2)

MCA project: drawings: Peddle Thorpe & Walker development May 1989 (box 1/2)

MCA project: drawings: Maritime Services Board building survey

MCA project: drawings: 123 George St building survey

MCA project: drawings: existing building survey

MCA project: drawings: stage II architect selection process, proposed building envelope

MCA project: drawings: services

MCA project: drawings: Maritime Services Board building 1929 (copy)

MCA project: drawings: historical West Circular Quay

MCA project: drawings: land title

MCA project: drawings: site archaeology

MCA project: drawings: land status maps

MCA project: presentation binder: 'partnership proposal' includes overviews of the project goals

MCA project: drawings / submissions by invited architects: Francesco Venezia, Nation Fender

MCA project: drawings / submissions by invited architects: Sauerbruch Hutton, Jose Rafael Moneo

MCA project: architectural design competition, stage I brief (CD-ROM, set of slides, plans,

MCA project: reports: briefings and advisory reports including heritage, engineering and

Series

City Projects and Public Art Collection Records, 1997- ongoing

Access

Public access statusClosed to public accessPublic access noteAccess Notes:Public documents are open. Other records are available for access with approval of Director of City Projects.
Restriction Category:(c) Less than 7 years old

Identification and Arrangement

Source system ID1008System of arrangementGrouped by format and subject

Relationships

Creating agenciesCity Projects DivisionRelated activitiesPlanning for public spacesRefurbishment and restoration of heritage buildings, structures and sitesMajor public works and infrastructure project management

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Records of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Project, 1989-2001