News Release — October 2, 2001

Ransom Center Renovation Underway

The Ransom Center's much anticipated renovation project to transform the first two floors of the Center into public spaces for the first time in its history began in late August and is now in full swing. In the spring of 2003, the Ransom Center's doors will open with 40,000 square feet of space devoted to our public. We eagerly look forward to a magnificent lobby with spacious exhibition galleries, a research wing, and an intimate state-of-the-art theater for readings, lectures, symposia, performances, and films.

The award-winning San Antonio firm Lake/Flato Architects, known for innovative and creative design, is the architect supervising design. Principal architect David Lake has said this about the Ransom Center project: "Our charge is to give the building a sense of openness, to express what the Ransom Center is all about. We hope to enhance the Center's position on campus and to enable it to take its place among the other cultural institutions in Austin." The company supervising construction is Browning Construction.

We want to assure the University community, scholars wishing to use our resources, and the public that the Ransom Center will remain open during the construction project. The Reading and Viewing Rooms and the administrative offices are open. Please check our website to find up-to-date information on entry changes, other important facts related to the project.

Please continue to visit our exhibitions. Our blockbuster exhibition, From Gutenberg to Gone With The Wind: Treasures from the Ransom Center, remains at the LBJ Library and Museum through May 2002. We will continue to feature exhibitions in the Leeds Gallery on the fourth floor of the Flawn Academic Center on The University of Texas campus, including the current exhibition "Henry Peach Robinson: Victorian Photographer" on view through December 18, 2001.

Although there is some dust and inconvenience associated with the construction, the overwhelming feeling at the Center is eager anticipation as we move toward our goal of increased opportunities to share the treasures of the Ransom Center.