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Will Renzo the Museum Hog Steal the Deal for SFMOMA Expansion?

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The leaking of SFMOMA's early favorites for architect has spawned a gold rush of pontification and prediction: talented if predictable, said some, and lacking direction, said another. A commenter on Bustler regrets that women are few and far between on the list, while another predicts:

Basically what will happen is OMA will have the most creative design and ideas but it will be too expensive. OMA or Diller, Scofidio & Renfro will win. After the competition (Renzo) Piano will somehow sneak in and get the job. He will design a sweet red egress stair on the main facade. There will also be a roof that looks exactly like the High Museum, and 3 other Piano museums, that will filter light beautifully into the galleries. I am officially begging SFMOMA not to let Piano do this museum. He already has one building in SF. But if Renzo's already had more than his fair share of museum play time, a "well-connected source" to the SFBT says there is some excitement about Peter "Above the Rest" Zumthor, who won a Pritzker Prize after working 30 years as something of an unknown. Still, "we have a way of getting world famous architects to do their worst work here. He can pick and choose and why would he put up with our nuttiness?" Meanwhile, a local columnist says the official hush-hushness of the shortlist works ostensibly to shield SFMOMA from "all the kibitzing, sniping, and whining." To that we say: good luck with all that.
· SFMOMA Gathers Big Names for Expansion Project [Bustler]
· S.F. Designers Find No Love From SFMOMA [SFBT]
· Ultra secret architect selection for SFMoMA [Examiner.com]
· More SFMOMA Front Runners! Critics Say List Is 'Predictable' [Curbed SF]
· Architect Shortlist for SFMOMA's Expansion Goes for Heavy Hitters [Curbed SF]

[SFMOMA photo via Franco Folini]