A new architecture exhibit opened in the Student Union art gallery Sunday before it embarks on a statewide museum tour, and Michael Desmond, architecture professor and head of the project, jokingly asked if it could make a pit stop at the Louisiana Legislature.The exhibit, “LSU: Building An American Renaissance,” chronicles the history and current structural condition of the buildings in the Quad, many of which are in desperate need of state funds for improvements and maintenance. A stop at the Capitol isn’t on the agenda, but Secretary of State Jay Dardenne will send the exhibit on a tour to various state museums after its residency in the Union.The first stop on the tour will be in Tioga. Dardenne said he is enthusiastic about making the exhibit available to everyone in Louisiana, not just those who can visit the Union art gallery.”This exhibit is capturing and depicting [campus history] in a way to make all Louisianians proud of it,” Dardenne said.The exhibit’s debut coincides with the University’s sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary. Michael Finkelstein, president of Landmark at LSU, a group working to preserve historic campus sites, said the exhibit is “the real kickoff to the sesquicentennial.” Finkelstein said the architecture project is also important to Landmark at LSU’s interest in historical parts of campus.”This is a tremendous opportunity for us while we have something in our backyard that’s tangible and we can look at as a guide to where we’ve been,” Finkelstein said. “And no one knows it better than Michael Desmond.”Chancellor Michael Martin said the timing is also interesting because of the ongoing construction to the Union.”There is something special here,” Martin said. “We’re looking at the changing campus, and we’re doing it here in the Union, which is being changed now.”Martin said another connection is Desmond’s father, who was the architect who originally designed the Union. Martin called it a “nice continuum.”Martin said he hopes the exhibit gives students a new perspective on the campus and sparks interest in the University.”[The exhibit] gives extra appeal of being able to appreciate how we got to where we are now,” Martin said. “I hope students take advantage and learn about this University.”Finkelstein said Landmark at LSU can find inspiration in the project, as well as help from Desmond on reaching the organization’s goals for preservation.The Union art gallery will display “LSU: Bilding an American Renaissance” until Oct. 25.
 
 
 
– – – -Contact Ryan Buxton at [email protected]