The popularity of Catalina Island has grown in recent years to numbers that have not been seen since 2000.
Going decades with little change to its landscape, a number of construction projects are currently underway throughout the harbor community of Avalon.
The popularity of Catalina Island has grown in recent years to numbers that have not been seen since 2000.
Going decades with little change to its landscape, a number of construction projects are currently underway throughout the harbor community of Avalon.
One of the most notable is the construction of the Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building of the Catalina Island Museum, slated to open in early 2015. New construction on an Island some 22 miles off the California coast already poses certain logistical hurdles. As Catalina Island faces one of the most severe droughts in over a hundred years, the Catalina Island Museum’s construction team, Christopherhill Development, proactively set out to look for a solution that would lessen the burden of construction on the Island’s dwindling water supply.
“We are keenly aware of the water crisis this community is facing,” said Mike Flynn, owner of Christopherhill Development. “We have worked out an arrangement with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to purchase water on the mainland and ship it to the Island,” Flynn said. “A meter has been added to a hydrant located near Catalina Freight Line in Wilmington. One-hundred-twenty water totes have been obtained for transport. Each tote holds approximately 275 gallons of water and will be barged back and forth as needed. With the use of these totes, not one drop of potable water from Avalon will be used for the remainder of the museum’s construction project.”
This solution is significant, saving the Island 33,000 gallons of water needed to mix the rest of the concrete for the museum’s new building. With Flynn’s help, other local companies have followed suit. The Santa Catalina Island Company has also purchased 120 totes to supply water for their current construction projects happening throughout Avalon.
“The Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building is already considered unique for a museum building due to the use of prefabricated materials in its design,” said the museum’s Executive Director Dr. Michael De Marsche. “We are proud to be a leading example of innovative solutions for our community as we face additional water rationing and restrictions in the coming months.”
Designed by the architectural firm of Marengo Morton Architects of La Jolla, California, the construction of the Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building will expand the present museum’s space by over 8,000 square feet.
Exhibition space will more than double with spaces dedicated to plein air painting, Catalina Island history and special exhibitions traveling to the museum from around the world.
Amenities in the new building will include a spacious entrance lobby and visitor center, a digital theater, an atrium and sculpture garden, an expansive museum store, and a vault area dedicated to staff offices, storage and research.
The Catalina Island Museum is Avalon’s sole institution devoted to art, culture and history.
The museum, its digital theater and store are currently located on the ground floor of Avalon’s historic Casino and are open seven days a week, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information, the museum may be reached by phone at 310-510-2414.
