Newport Firm Wins Work on Museum

The Blurock Partnership of Newport Beach has been selected as the local architecture firm to implement Italian architect Renzo Piano’s design for the Newport Harbor Art Museum’s new home, museum officials announced Thursday.

Blurock, a 36-year-old firm that performed a similar function for the Orange County Performing Arts Center, is one of about a dozen firms that submitted bids on the project, according to museum spokeswoman Kathy Bryant.

The new museum building will be on a 10 1/2-acre hillside in Corona del Mar. A starting date for construction has not been given.

“Renzo needs someone here as a liaison,” Bryant said. “He will do the major design, and he needs someone to follow up on the details.”

Frank August, lead architect for Blurock, declined to discuss how much the firm will be paid. He said Bill Blurock, founding partner of the firm, will supervise the work.

With the announcement earlier this week that the Irvine-based construction management firm of Fluor Daniel will oversee contracting of the work, the team for constructing the museum is complete, Bryant said.