WANLASS CENTER FOR ART EDCUCATION + RESEARCH

Wanlass is a 10,000 SF, 3-story cultural facility at Utah State University adjacent to and serving as a companion facility to the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art. Wanlass was designed to offer a unique insight and visibility into the Center’s significant collection of modern and contemporary art of the American West. A key driver for the project was to provide space for students, scholars and the community to engage with art and NEHMA’s collections (including a significant new private 600+ piece collection recently donated to USU) in a way that complements the museum’s current offerings.

The vision was to provide visitors access to artworks via interactive learning opportunities, new classrooms with integrated easels, a research library and visible (secure) storage component. Wanlass’ new Study Room, with direct proximity to the secure art storage, allows the room to be curated with collection material on integrated easels for a direct user-to-art interface. A Research Library provides access to the museum’s library collection and artist archive material. The Art Classroom provides a second opportunity for curated space utilizing collection material, and a space for K-12 programming, including access to art materials for student art creation.

The Wanlass Center for Art Education + Research transforms the visitor experience of art through an interactive and engaging approach to trans-disciplinary art education and research. The building utilizes a visual access concept, with large glazed panels providing views into the collection storage and the mobile collection storage systems, including textile racking, modular art racks for framed works, and various shelving configurations for 2D and 3D work.