Ridenbaugh Galleries

Moscow, Idaho

The University of Idaho Art and Design program traditionally showcased student work at a downtown art gallery. In 2021, a change in ownership and the extended construction schedule for a replacement gallery left the program without a public exhibition space. The Art and Design faculty turned to long-neglected area, the first floor of the Historic Ridenbaugh Hall building on the University’s campus.

This space was in desperate need of renovation; drab flooring, outdated lighting, inflexible display spaces, and a lack of public presence made it ill-suited to serve the needs of the faculty and students who would be using it.

Design-Build students were eager to respond to these challenges, helping colleagues in another artistic discipline and working to enrich the arts of their local community. The studio worked with Art and Design Faculty, Campus Facilities, and University Architecture and Engineering Services to coordinate and complete a renovation of appx. 3000 square feet on the first floor. The project transformed the outdated spaces into a series of welcoming public exhibition spaces. These included micro-galleries within the building lobby, two larger galleries, the opening of walls for daylighting and views into the galleries from outside, and the utilization of previously boarded-up windows as exterior-facing displays. While initially the Ridenbaugh Art Galleries were looked to as a stop-gap measure until the new gallery downtown was completed, this revitalized space is an asset that can be used for years to come. The flexible, professional exhibition space is easily transformable to a number of educational purposes as program needs change, and the different gallery types offer new opportunities for collaboration between the University and regional art communities.

The project was an Orchid Award winner for Historic Preservation from Moscow Historic Preservation Commission.