Menil Drawing Institute opening delayed

Scratch one of fall's biggest planned arts events from the calendar: The Menil Drawing Institute will not open Oct. 7 as previously announced.

Menil Collection director Rebecca Rabinow cited construction delays with the $35 million facility, which will be the only free-standing building in the U.S. devoted to the study and display of works on paper.

Rabinow said the opening date announced earlier this year was arbitrary and "probably a little too aggressive."

"It's a very sophisticated, innovative building," she said. "We're in it for the long haul and have very exacting standards. Better to take time and get it perfect than open too early."

Rabinow said the June 30 departure of chief operating officer Sheryl Kolasinski, who had managed the project, had no impact on the delay. Kolasinski, who left to become COO of the Houston Zoo, told the Chronicle recently that her work with the MDI was essentially finished.

For more details about the MDI construction, see houstonchronicle.com.