AUSTIN, Texas —One of the seven architectural firms selected as a semifinalist for the proposed Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art design project has withdrawn from the selection process to focus its resources on a major architectural project in Europe. Juan Navarro Baldeweg of Navarro Baldeweg Asociados of Madrid, Spain, informed The University of Texas at Austin on Monday (July 31) that it has just been commissioned to design a center for theatre and dance in Madrid and that the project “will utilize virtually all the studio’s resources.” Interviews with the other six architectural firms are scheduled for Aug. 16-17.
“We congratulate Navarro Baldeweg Asociados on their recent commission and are sorry that they cannot participate in the selection of an architect for the Blanton Museum. We thank them for being forthright and wish them the best,” said UT Austin President Larry R. Faulkner.
The text of the letter from Juan Navarro Baldeweg is included with this press release. A photocopy of the original letter will be faxed upon request.
JUAN NAVARRO BALDEWEG
Arquitecto
Monday, July 31, 2000
Larry R. Faulkner
President, University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas System
President’s Office
Main Building, Room 400
Austin, TX, 78712
USA
Dear President Larry R. Faulkner,
It was a pleasure to speak with you on the telephone the other day. I am writing you to let you know about the difficulties our studio is having regarding the continuation of our participation in the process of selection of the design architect for the Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art. Only two days ago, a restricted international architectural competition, of a 200,000ft2 center for theatre and dance in Madrid, was decided: happily, we have been chosen to realize the project. The project’s contract stipulates a record response time in both design development and construction, with an anticipated 2003 opening date, which will utilize virtually all the studio’s resources. This situation, while happy for us, casts a shadow over the possibility of our continued participation in the future Blanton Museum at Austin. Realistically considering the variety and quantity of work, including other work in progress, before us in our small studio, I feel that we need to withdraw from the Blanton Museum selection process.
I hope that withdrawing from the Blanton Museum of Art design architect selection process does not cause any undue problems for you and the selection committee. I wish you and the committee the best fortune, which the Blanton Museum certainly merits.
Most Sincerely, I Remain
Juan Navarro Baldewerg, Arquitecto
