KATHERINE GRAY

In 1994, Tate announced it was seeking to expand the collection and acquire more space, as in another museum. The decision was to put Tate’s modern and contemporary art collection, post 1900 in the new space. Tate Britain would house art prior to and would still show contemporary and modern British artists.
The search for new space turned up the old, dilapidated, Bankside Power Station. The plant had been decommissioned back in the 1981. Until 1994 when Tate bought the property, it housed many transients and squatters.
1994, Tate knew their new space and embarked on a quest to find an architect that would keep to their vision of the new museum. Tate did not want Bankside to be cut up, torn down, dramatically defaced, or overly altered.
Herzog and de Meuron won the competition. The team showed their plans and Tate was delighted that they did not plant to alter the exterior. The interior Herzog and de Meuron planned and showed also won them the competition. Frank Gehry and Rem Koolhass both entered into the competition and were close runner-ups to Herzog and de Meuron.
Tate Modern opened in May 2000. Within the 1st 3 months, the yearly supply of toilet paper was out. Tate was a hit, 10 million the first year. Average rate has roughed off the 7 million. Those numbers make Tate Modern the most popular modern art museum in the world.