That's a question that probably can't be answered without the lens of history. Wired News delivered to your inbox or hand-held device. This is a new model for a museum.
Museums are the most coveted commission for an architect.
Especially because there are few opportunities for architects to design really big spaces in Manhattan. It won't, however, be the first of its kind to open in the United States. The Beecher Center in Ohio opened its doors in 1999. And Eyebeam's museum is far from being the first of its kind in the world. Japan's Inter-Communication Center , Germany's ZKM and Canada's Banff Centre for the Arts have existed for years.