Greenwich, CT – Construction has begun on the renovation and expansion of the exhibit galleries and support spaces of the Bruce Museum, a community based, world-class institution highlighting art, science and natural history in Greenwich.
The general contractor for the project is Turner Construction. Stone Harbor is the owner’s rep. The design is being led by EskewDumezRipple, a New Orleans-based architecture, planning and interior design practice.
The reimagined new Bruce will more than double the size of the museum, from 30,000sf to 70,000sf, adding education and community spaces and significantly expanding its space for permanent and temporary installations of art, science, and natural history exhibitions.
The centerpiece is a three-story addition that will be integrated with the current structure while connecting the project to its adjacent park setting.
The design vision for the project ties the building to the landscape and to the unique geology of its New England context. Drawing inspiration from stone quarries found along the Connecticut coast, the design features a delicately striated facade of cast stone and glass that will be animated by the play of light across the building, changing appearance with the weather and time of day.
The new entrance will face Bruce Park, connecting the project to the community while drawing the landscape in to create a light court in the center of the museum.
The museum recently launched the public phase of a transformative, $60 million capital campaign in support of this multi-phase expansion and renovation project. The first phase will renovate and revitalize the existing structure, which includes a private residence built in 1853 and deeded by Robert Moffat Bruce to the town of Greenwich for use as “a natural history, historical, and art museum for the use and benefit of the public.”
The second phase of the project entailed a 40,000sf addition, more than doubling the existing size of the museum while providing expanded collection storage, permanent and changing art gallery space, and a new public entrance lobby, cafe, and lecture hall for museum and community use.
Bruce Museum consultant team:
EskewDumezRipple, architecture and interior design
Reed Hilderbrand, landscape architecture
Guy Nordenson and Associates, structural engineering
Altieri Sebor Wieber, mechanical and electrical engineering, fire protection
Redniss Mead, civil engineering
Melich-Tully Associates, P.C., geotechnical engineering
Fisher Marantz Stone, lighting
M. Goodwin Museum Planning, programming
Jaffe Holden, acoustics and A/V
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, envelope
Stuart-Lynn, cost estimating
Bruce J. Spiewak, code consultant
Futch Design Associates, Inc., food service
Ducibella Venter Santore, security
Fogarty Cohen Selby & Nemiroff, LCC, parking
Redniss Mead, surveying
Bartlett Tree Experts, tree surveying