Editing Tate Modern (section)

=== Extension project ===

Tate Modern had attracted more visitors than originally expected and plans to expand it had been in preparation since 2004. These plans focused on the south west of the building with the intention of providing 5,000&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup> of new display space, almost doubling the amount of display space.<ref name=guide>Tate Guide, August–September 2012</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tate.org.uk/about/projects/tate-modern-project/vision|title=Vision|work=Tate Etc.|access-date=15 August 2012}}</ref>

The southern third of the building was retained by the French State owned power company EDF Energy as an [[electrical substation]]. In 2006, the company released the western half of this holding<ref name="EDF">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/26/arts/design/26tate.html|title=Tate Modern Announces Plans for an Annex|work=The New York Times|date=26 July 2006|access-date=26 July 2006|first=Alan|last=Riding}}</ref> and plans were made to replace the structure with a tower extension to the museum, initially planned to be completed in 2015. The tower was to be built over the old oil storage tanks, which would be converted to a performance art space. Structural, geotechnical, civil, and façade engineering and environmental consultancy was undertaken by [[Ramboll]] between 2008 and 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tate Modern extension|url=http://www.ramboll.com/projects/ruk/tate-modern|access-date=22 February 2017|archive-date=7 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607091128/http://www.ramboll.com/projects/ruk/tate-modern|url-status=dead}}</ref>

This project was initially costed at £215&nbsp;million.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2285488,00.html Tate Modern's chaotic pyramid]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''[[The Times]]'', 26 July 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2006.</ref> Of the money raised, £50&nbsp;million came from the UK government; £7&nbsp;million from the [[London Development Agency]]; £6&nbsp;million from philanthropist [[John Studzinski]]; and donations from, among others, the Sultanate of Oman and [[Elisabeth Murdoch (businesswoman)|Elisabeth Murdoch]].<ref>Farah Nayeri (20 April 2012), [https://web.archive.org/web/20120420115613/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-04-20/murdoch-s-daughter-elisabeth-gives-tate-at-least-1-dot-6-mln Murdoch's Daughter Elisabeth Gives Tate at Least $1.6 Mln]''[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]''.</ref>

In June 2013, international shipping and property magnate [[Eyal Ofer]] pledged £10 million to the extension project, making it to 85% of the required funds. Eyal Ofer, chairman of London-based [[Zodiac Maritime Agencies]], said the donation made through his family foundation would enable "an iconic institution to enhance the experience and accessibility of contemporary art".<ref>{{cite web|last=Pickford |first=James |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/73bfec0c-e32f-11e2-bd87-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/73bfec0c-e32f-11e2-bd87-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |title=Eyal Ofer donates £10m to Tate Modern extension |work=Financial Times |date=2 July 2013 |access-date=12 January 2014}}</ref> The Tate director, [[Nicholas Serota]], praised the donation saying it would help to make Tate Modern a "truly twenty-first-century museum".<ref>{{cite news|author=Mark Brown|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/jul/02/tate-modern-gift-eyal-ofer |title=Tate Modern receives £10m gift from Israeli shipping magnate Eyal Ofer|work=The Guardian |date= 2 July 2013|access-date=12 January 2014 |location=London}}</ref>

==== The Tanks ====
The first phase of the expansion involved the conversion of three large, circular, underground oil tanks originally used by the power station into accessible display spaces and facilities areas. These opened on 18 July 2012 and closed on 28 October 2012<ref name="artreview" /> as work on the tower building continued directly above. They reopened following the completion of the Switch House extension in June 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.a-n.co.uk/news/expanded-tate-modern-to-open-june-2016/|title=Expanded Tate Modern to open June 2016|date=25 September 2015|publisher=AN40|access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref>

Two of the Tanks are used to show live [[performance art]] and installations while the third provides utility space.<ref name="map" /> Tate describes them as "the world's first museum galleries permanently dedicated to live art".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tanks-tate-modern/eventseries/tanks-art-action|title=The Tanks: Art in Action|work=Tate Etc.|access-date=8 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104132030/http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tanks-tate-modern/eventseries/tanks-art-action|archive-date=4 January 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==== The Switch House ====
[[File:Tate Modern Switch House (27633103611).jpg|thumb|Exterior of the Switch House]]
A ten-storey tower, {{convert|65|m|abbr=on}} high from ground level, was built above the oil tanks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tate.org.uk/file/tate-modern-project-environmental-statement-non-technical-summary|title=Environmental Statement non-technical summary|work=Tate Etc.|access-date=25 September 2014}}</ref>

The original western half of the Switch House was demolished to make room for the tower and then rebuilt around it with large gallery spaces and access routes between the main building and the new tower on level 1 (ground level) and level 4. The new galleries on level 4 have natural top lighting. A bridge built across the turbine hall on level 4 provides an upper access route.<ref name=guide />

The new building opened to the public on 17 June 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/special-event/new-tate-modern-opening-weekend|title=The new Tate Modern opening weekend – Special Event at Tate Modern|website=Tate Etc.|access-date=18 June 2016}}</ref>

The design, again by Herzog & de Meuron, has been controversial. It was originally designed with a glass stepped pyramid, but this was amended to incorporate a sloping façade in brick latticework (to match the original power-station building)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=10122|title=Tate Modern extension redesigned|publisher=Worldarchitecturenews.com|date=18 July 2008|access-date=8 January 2013}}</ref> despite planning consent for the original design having been granted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/planning_decisions/strategic_dev/2007/20070509/tate_modern_bankside_report.pdf|title=Tate Modern extension, Bankside|publisher=Greater London Authority|access-date=25 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819083439/http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/planning_decisions/strategic_dev/2007/20070509/tate_modern_bankside_report.pdf|archive-date=19 August 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The extension provides {{convert|22,492|sqm|abbr=on}} of additional gross internal area for display and exhibition spaces, performance spaces, education facilities, offices, catering and retail facilities as well as a car parking and a new external public space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inexhibit.com/case-studies/tate-modern-expansion-herzog-de-meuron/|title=Tate Modern extension by Herzog & de Meuron architects|publisher=Inexhibit|access-date=25 September 2014}}</ref>

In May 2017, the Switch House was formally renamed the Blavatnik Building, after Anglo-Ukrainian billionaire Sir [[Leonard Blavatnik]], who contributed a "substantial" amount of the £260 million cost of the extension. Sir [[Nicholas Serota]] commented, "Len Blavatnik's enthusiastic support ensured the successful realisation of the project and I am delighted that the new building now bears his name".<ref>{{cite web|author=Hannah Ellis-Petersen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/may/04/tate-modern-names-extension-after-oligarch-donor-len-blavatnik |title=Tate Modern names extension after billionaire Len Blavatnik |work=The Guardian |date=4 May 2017 |access-date=30 June 2017}}</ref>