The aim is to improve reception and public attention while enlarging the space dedicated to both permanent and temporary exhibitions, documentation, restoration, and storage. The plan also calls for more room for training programs, mediation, and cultural activities, alongside a reimagined internal layout and greater integration with the surrounding urban area. Based on these criteria, one of the two firms bidding for the Alicante City Council public contract will be responsible for preparing the extension project for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Alicante.
This morning the Contracting Committee opened two envelopes with proposals for the project. One comes from Sancho-Madridejos Architecture Office, the team behind the current MACA project, and the other from Alicante Abnormal Architectures Office SLP. The selected firm will be announced in about ten working days and will design the project over an eight month period. The target is to align completion with a planned timeline in early 2023, if expansion proceeds on schedule.
The estimated tender budget is 399,079 euros. The museum footprint would grow from 4,600 square meters to 8,200, a 75 percent increase. The expansion would extend to the rear, between Plaza del Puente and the Balseta and San Juan streets, effectively widening the building’s back facade.
“We are looking at an expansion of roughly 3,600 square feet,” explains Cultural Council Member Anthony Manresa. He notes that MACA currently sits at about 4,600 square meters, so the enlargement would bring about a substantial increase in display capacity for contemporary art, including large sculptures, as well as more room for paintings and photographs.
The miracle of MACA
Once the extension project is in place, subsequent procurement steps will need to wait for the use of the newly expanded zones to be finalized. The process may involve revising the usage plan for the back area to shorten timelines while accommodating a significant reconfiguration. The wider scope of the MACA project reflects a city willing to reimagine its cultural infrastructure.
The mayor underscored that cooperation with other institutions will likely be essential as the project progresses and invites broader participation from partners in the cultural sector.
The need for a new museum
MACA celebrated its tenth anniversary last year and has grown into a recognized hub for contemporary art. The expansion is driven by a strengthened collection that includes a significant donation from the Jenkins-Romero Collection from New York, alongside ongoing acquisitions. This growth calls for more space to house works and to present both permanent and temporary exhibitions while offering better storage and conservation facilities.
The special needs assessment for the expansion identifies Balseta Street as the only viable site for growth. The proposal emphasizes an environment where all areas can expand substantially, addressing the current functional limits of the structure and enabling more ambitious programs.
Plans include new public facilities such as resting areas, an expanded bookstore, a cafeteria with independent access, and an open viewing terrace that integrates with the surrounding streetscape.
The collections, spanning 20th century works, Eusebio Sempere, Juana Frances, Fundación Mediterráneo, and Jenkins-Romero, require ongoing growth through acquisitions and donations. The current spaces for exhibitions and for storage and preservation are no longer sufficient to accommodate both permanent and temporary displays.
The project prioritizes a large storage area that unites the collections and supports easy handling and anticipated growth. Open storage and organized handling zones are emphasized to ensure that the holdings can be accessed and expanded efficiently.
Public spaces for activities are another major focus. MACA has consistently expanded its program offerings, and the expansion aims to provide dedicated spaces that support these activities with clarity and flexibility.
In June 2021, the Alicante City Council commissioned the Sancho-Madridejos studio to carry out initial expansion studies. Early drawings identified essential features such as a new monumental room that would give the building grand proportions suitable for imposing sculptures and large-scale works.
Jenkins-Romero collection makes history at MACA and Alicante
The MACA enlargement is seen as a signal from the cultural sector that a more expansive and accessible home for art is needed in Alicante. Local authorities stress that the new entrance from the basement area near Santa María Basilica was considered but not used due to archaeological remains; the site could still be repurposed as an exterior space that blends archaeology with contemporary art in a thoughtful way.
Scale for evaluating offers
The Board of Directors met on June 14 to appoint an expert committee to evaluate the two proposals according to the criteria set in the tender specifications. The evaluation involves the Alicante City Council, the Regional Association of Architects, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, the University of Alicante, and specialists from the Valencian Community Museums Consortium.
The specifications state that price alone cannot determine the winner. Quality criteria must represent at least 51 percent of the total evaluation score. The assessment allocates 70 points to quality factors, including the technical merit of the bids, and 30 points to other factors such as price, bidders’ experience with similar work, related tasks, and energy efficiency ratings.