Assembling a Collaborative Project Team, with Beth Van Why

Making the Museum

Great projects happen because of great teams. But how do you build that team in the first place?


Who should a museum hire first, to start a major project? How do you decide whether internal staff should run a big project, or if you need help from outside? Should you hire an architect before you hire an exhibition designer, or vice versa? Who else do you need, and when? Where can a museum find firms they might like to work with? What’s an “owner’s rep” anyway?

Beth Van Why (Senior Project Manager, Becker & Frondorf) returns to the show, joining host Jonathan Alger (Managing Partner, C&G Partners) to discuss “Assembling a Collaborative Project Team”.

Along the way: what “AV integrator” means, choosing your own adventure, and how to build a museum on top of Pike’s Peak.

Talking Points:

1. What is a project team?

2. Every project has unique restrictions and opportunities.

3. What museums can do internally vs. when they need help.

4. Timeline for adding staff, partners, and consultants.

5. Owners reps, museum planners, architects, exhibition designers — who else?

6. The role of RFQs and RFPs in team building.

Guest Bio:
  

Beth Van Why has spent most of her career managing construction and development projects for non-profit and cultural institutions. She offers an extensive background in architecture, exhibit design, collections care, construction, and owner-run program management. Beth is very familiar with the various funding sources available to non-profits and the parameters that come with them. From master planning to design and budget consultation, Beth brings a comprehensive view of the role needed in making a building project successful. A strong advocate for the importance of education, Beth also serves as an associate professor in museum design at University of the Arts.
 
Show Links:

bvanwhy@beckerfrondorf.com
https://www.beckerfrondorf.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethvanwhy/

Newsletter:
 
Like the episode? Try the newsletter. Making the Museum is also a one-minute email on exhibition planning and design for museum leaders, exhibition teams and visitor experience professionals. Subscribe here:
https://www.makingthemuseum.com

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada