Jack Lohman was animated describing how the Royal B.C. Museum will morph from a facility that is B次元官网网址渢ired and in need of upgradesB次元官网网址� to one that reaches B次元官网网址渘ew levels of excellence.B次元官网网址�

The museum CEO, who completes his March 26, used TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 announcement of a top-notch architectural team for the museumB次元官网网址檚 major upgrade to explain his vision for the future.

Comparing the current entrance hall to that of a shopping mall, he called for the creation of a more welcoming and appropriate gateway to the exhibits.

Not only that, he said, the facility needs a refresh to make it more appealing and , both locals and tourists.

B次元官网网址淲e know tourism here is a five-month, intense period, but we need to attract visitors all year round,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e have a huge local population that is very educated and deeply interested in history and culture. We need to make that offer to the local community, but at the same time we are a museum for the entire province.B次元官网网址�

Despite the big-picture talk, the announcement Tuesday was merely the kickoff to six months of work to create a new master site plan for the museum precinct. The goal is to see significant changes by 2017 and completion of the work in time for B.C.B次元官网网址檚 sesquicentennial in 2021.

John McAslanB次元官网网址檚 internationally renowned London company will serve as lead architect in the creation of that plan, which also involves the B.C. Archives next door.

Recognizing the need to air out the museumB次元官网网址檚 offerings, he pointed to a need to B次元官网网址渁llow the building to breathe and be connected in a way that allows movement and circulation.B次元官网网址�

Lohman distanced himself from a previous development plan that called for two more towers to be built onsite, a plan for which the museum received a rezoning for the property in 2011.

The idea of erecting two office towers B次元官网网址渟cared me,B次元官网网址� Lohman said, adding he felt it was an inappropriate way to develop museum space. The overarching objective is to create a master plan for the existing site, obtaining better value for what's already there, rather than creating a building plan, he said.

Victoria Coun. Pam Madoff, city councilB次元官网网址檚 unofficial heritage watchdog for more than a decade, sounded excited about the possibilities for the site, especially with McAslan on board.

Aware of the type of major transformations the U.K. company has undertaken B次元官网网址� rebuilding the Iron Market in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, or refurbishing a stodgy KingB次元官网网址檚 Cross Station in London before the 2012 Olympics, for example B次元官网网址� MadoffB次元官网网址檚 eyes lit up talking about the opportunity to remake the provincial museum.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 his principles that interest me,B次元官网网址� she said of the vision McAslan and colleagues have demonstrated. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about recognizing the value in whatB次元官网网址檚 there while being sensitive (to the surroundings). IB次元官网网址檝e never felt so optimistic.B次元官网网址�

The 2011 rezoning was a painful process, Madoff recalled. B次元官网网址淭hose (ideas) were built on a business model,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭odayB次元官网网址檚 plan is what does the museum need?B次元官网网址�

Local architect Paul Merrick, whose firm will play a leading role in developing and interpreting the visions of the McAslan group.

Merrick recalled that the museum was built by the W.A.C. Bennett government in the rather utilitarian style of the 1960s.

B次元官网网址淚t was essentially a black box that was habited by experiences, or what we call B次元官网网址榚xhibitsB次元官网网址� today,B次元官网网址� he said.

While technology improvements and additions such as the National Geographic IMAX Theatre have created added value for the facility, he said, they havenB次元官网网址檛 done anything to remove impedances to first-time visitors.

Merrick considers the corner of Belleville and Government streets Ground Zero for tourists in Victoria, given its proximity to the legislature, the Fairmont Empress Hotel and the Inner Harbour.

The museum is juxtaposed between those two architectural icons, he said, yet often gets missed, in part due to its somewhat nondescript appearance.

B次元官网网址淧eople can be standing right there, but still have to ask B次元官网网址淲here is the Royal B.C. Museum?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

editor@vicnews.com