Brandywine Conservancy Announces Major Plan for Buildings Expansion

Return to News Page | Return Home

Brandywine Conservancy Announces Major Plan for Buildings Expansion
(#048)

At a press conference today (October 12, 2001), the Brandywine Conservancy announced a major plan to expand its buildings in Chadds Ford beginning in 2002. The plan will add two galleries and a children's classroom to the Conservancy's Brandywine River Museum; renovate two buildings for its Environmental Management Center; and replace both its membership and development office building and support and maintenance building.

"It is time to build new and improved facilities to care for our collections and accommodate demands for increased public service and education," said George A. Weymouth, Chairman of the Conservancy's Board of Trustees. "And it is time to seek additional endowment funds to maintain those facilities and the unique and important programs they support."

ìThe plan for expansion is extremely complex and includes building additions, replacements and renovations," said James H. Duff, Executive Director of the Conservancy. ìOur goal is to provide esthetically pleasing, even dramatic, buildings that will relate to existing structures, alleviate crowded conditions, and provide for increased public services.

Now in its fourth decade of service, the Conservancy is nationally and internationally recognized for its innovative programs that preserve vital environmental and cultural resources. The dramatic success of the Conservancy's two programs: the Environmental Management Center and the Brandywine River Museum; has brought rapid growth in public services, museum collections, staff and physical assets.

The Environmental Management Center began with fewer than 100 acres in 1967. Today, the Conservancy owns more than 2,200 acres and 24 buildings. In addition, the Environmental Management Center has been instrumental in permanently protecting more than 32,000 acres of farmland and open space through conservation easements on over 400 properties.

From 20 works of art in 1971, the Brandywine River Museumís American art collections have grown tremendously due to the generosity of many donors. The collections now include nearly 3,000 works of art; an important library of books, manuscripts and artistsí memorabilia; and over 9,000 additional artifacts at the N.C. Wyeth Studio. More than 4.5 million people from every state and 80 foreign countries have visited the museum over the past 30 years. In recent years, the Conservancy has acquired N.C. Wyeth's house and studio and the famous Kuerner farm, two historic properties of great public value.

Meanwhile, the Conservancy staff has grown from two employees in the first year to more than 110 today, supplemented by more than 250 active volunteers.

The Conservancy's wonderful and dramatic growth has created space problems for public programs, staff, and storage. In the museum galleries, only a small portion of the art collection can be shown at one time. The Environmental Management Center staff has doubled since its offices were constructed. In the maintenance and support building, there is no more room to store essential materials.

To address these problems, in 1999, the Conservancy's Board of Trustees commissioned James R. Grieves, the much-praised architect of the Brandywine River Museum and other previous Conservancy renovation projects, to conduct an analysis of space needs. Based on his findings, Grieves developed designs to both expand and renovate existing facilities. His exciting and practical solutions have been adopted by the Board of Trustees as the basis for a building program.

To satisfy these critical needs and provide a stronger financial base, the Board of Trustees initiated the ìBuilding for a New Centuryî campaign in 2001. The campaign seeks $23 million to build, renovate and endow the new facilities and expanded programs.

An extraordinary response by faithful members, patrons, foundations, and corporations has already generated $18.4 million toward the campaign. These campaign contributions will secure the Conservancyís future growth and ensure effective, vital public services for generations to come.

The Brandywine Conservancy is a nonprofit organization that preserves the art and the environment of the Brandywine Valley. The Conservancy's Brandywine River Museum has introduced millions of visitors to the area's rich artistic heritage, and the Conservancy's Environmental Management Center is a leading local and national advocate for responsible land use. For more information about the Brandywine Conservancy, call (610) 388-2700 or visit the Conservancy's web sites at www.brandywineconservancy.org and www.brandywinemuseum.org.

Top of Page

Brandywine River Museum, U.S. Route 1 and PA Route 100
P.O. Box 141, Chadds Ford, PA 19317
For more information send email to: inquiries@brandywine.org
© 2001 Brandywine Conservancy

Return to News Page \| Return Home
Brandywine Conservancy Announces Major Plan for Buildings Expansion (#048) At a press conference today (October 12, 2001), the Brandywine Conservancy announced a major plan to expand its buildings in Chadds Ford beginning in 2002. The plan will add two galleries and a children's classroom to the Conservancy's Brandywine River Museum; renovate two buildings for its Environmental Management Center; and replace both its membership and development office building and support and maintenance building. "It is time to build new and improved facilities to care for our collections and accommodate demands for increased public service and education," said George A. Weymouth, Chairman of the Conservancy's Board of Trustees. "And it is time to seek additional endowment funds to maintain those facilities and the unique and important programs they support." ìThe plan for expansion is extremely complex and includes building additions, replacements and renovations," said James H. Duff, Executive Director of the Conservancy. ìOur goal is to provide esthetically pleasing, even dramatic, buildings that will relate to existing structures, alleviate crowded conditions, and provide for increased public services. Now in its fourth decade of service, the Conservancy is nationally and internationally recognized for its innovative programs that preserve vital environmental and cultural resources. The dramatic success of the Conservancy's two programs: the Environmental Management Center and the Brandywine River Museum; has brought rapid growth in public services, museum collections, staff and physical assets. The Environmental Management Center began with fewer than 100 acres in 1967. Today, the Conservancy owns more than 2,200 acres and 24 buildings. In addition, the Environmental Management Center has been instrumental in permanently protecting more than 32,000 acres of farmland and open space through conservation easements on over 400 properties. From 20 works of art in 1971, the Brandywine River Museumís American art collections have grown tremendously due to the generosity of many donors. The collections now include nearly 3,000 works of art; an important library of books, manuscripts and artistsí memorabilia; and over 9,000 additional artifacts at the N.C. Wyeth Studio. More than 4.5 million people from every state and 80 foreign countries have visited the museum over the past 30 years. In recent years, the Conservancy has acquired N.C. Wyeth's house and studio and the famous Kuerner farm, two historic properties of great public value. Meanwhile, the Conservancy staff has grown from two employees in the first year to more than 110 today, supplemented by more than 250 active volunteers. The Conservancy's wonderful and dramatic growth has created space problems for public programs, staff, and storage. In the museum galleries, only a small portion of the art collection can be shown at one time. The Environmental Management Center staff has doubled since its offices were constructed. In the maintenance and support building, there is no more room to store essential materials. To address these problems, in 1999, the Conservancy's Board of Trustees commissioned James R. Grieves, the much-praised architect of the Brandywine River Museum and other previous Conservancy renovation projects, to conduct an analysis of space needs. Based on his findings, Grieves developed designs to both expand and renovate existing facilities. His exciting and practical solutions have been adopted by the Board of Trustees as the basis for a building program. To satisfy these critical needs and provide a stronger financial base, the Board of Trustees initiated the ìBuilding for a New Centuryî campaign in 2001. The campaign seeks $23 million to build, renovate and endow the new facilities and expanded programs. An extraordinary response by faithful members, patrons, foundations, and corporations has already generated $18.4 million toward the campaign. These campaign contributions will secure the Conservancyís future growth and ensure effective, vital public services for generations to come. The Brandywine Conservancy is a nonprofit organization that preserves the art and the environment of the Brandywine Valley. The Conservancy's Brandywine River Museum has introduced millions of visitors to the area's rich artistic heritage, and the Conservancy's Environmental Management Center is a leading local and national advocate for responsible land use. For more information about the Brandywine Conservancy, call (610) 388-2700 or visit the Conservancy's web sites at www.brandywineconservancy.org and www.brandywinemuseum.org. Top of Page
Brandywine River Museum, U.S. Route 1 and PA Route 100 P.O. Box 141, Chadds Ford, PA 19317 For more information send email to: inquiries@brandywine.org © 2001 Brandywine Conservancy