GEOMETRIC tiling set to line a $40 million heritage/library centre under construction in Geelong’s Johnstone Park has been revealed.
City and library staff posed at Kane Constructions this week to show off the distinctive skin that will rise six storeys above Little Malop St when completed late next year.
The striking centre has been immersed in controversy since it was revealed by the Independent the adjoining Geelong Gallery is to gatecrash the first floor of the building, taking up 22 squares of prime space for art exhibitions.
The incursion is meant to be temporary but no time-frame for the art gallery hijacking has been specified by City Hall.
The summary approval of the gallery’s presence was made last December without any business case and followed lengthy speculation the Geelong Gallery would try to muscle in on the new building.
A 2010 report to council had broached the idea of expanding the gallery into the new library but the move, when it occurred, caught City heritage portfolio-holder Cr Tony Ansett on the hop.
He demanded assurances the arrangement be a “temporary solution” only to the gallery’s space shortage.
A $100,000 grant was subsequently announced by the State Government in March to develop a business plan to upgrade the art gallery.
