Olympic Sculpture Park opening rescheduled for January

The opening of Seattle Art Museum's new Olympic Sculpture Park — formerly slated for October — has been rescheduled for the weekend of Jan. 20-21.

The delay was caused by a King County concrete workers' strike, which stopped construction for nearly a month on the nine-acre tract bordering Myrtle Edwards Park on the downtown waterfront. To avoid opening during the busy holiday season, museum officials pushed the celebration date into the new year.

SAM officials also announced a May 5 opening for the expansion of the museum's main facility on First Avenue between Union and University streets.

With a budget of $180 million, the ambitious, two-pronged expansion has taxed the museum's staff and resources. The institution is still about $10 million short of its fundraising goal and must raise that by Oct. 1, 2007, to release a challenge grant of $2.5 million from the Kresge Foundation. SAM spokeswoman Cara Egan said there has not been time to assess additional costs, if any, that may have been caused by the construction delay at the Sculpture Park.

"We look forward to celebrating with everyone in our community and the many people who have made this park and expanded museum a reality," said director Mimi Gates in a news release.

The Olympic Sculpture Park was designed by Weiss/Manfredi Architects of New York and will add 554 trees and 900 feet of restored beach to the city, as well as major artworks by Richard Serra, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder and other top names in contemporary art.

SAM's downtown expansion, designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture, will connect the original Robert Venturi-designed building to 118,000 square feet in a new building next to the Washington Mutual Tower. The first phase of the museum project will provide 70 percent more exhibition space and a flexible arrangement that allows for future expansion.

Sheila Farr: 206-464-2270 or sfarr@seattletimes.com