Burchfield-Penney Art Center and Buffalo State College.
Photo: Albright - Knox Museum of Modern Art - across the street of Buffalo State College.Construction of a Sister Museum
Burchfield-Penney Art Center and Buffalo State College Break Ground on New Museum BuildingGovernor George E. Pataki with Buffalo State College president Muriel A. Howard, Congressman Tom Reynolds, New York State Senator Dale Volker, New York State Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, New York State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown will broke ground August 24 for the new Burchfield-Penney Art Center museum building on the site of the new museum which is being constructed on the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Rockwell Road.
"The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is extremely grateful to Governor Pataki and the entire Western New York State Legislature delegation for their unwavering support of this very important project," said Cindy Abbott Letro, chair of the Burchfield-Penney Board of Trustees.
"The new Burchfield-Penney will stand both as a tribute to the art and artists of Western New York and as an exciting architectural addition to Buffalo, Buffalo State College and the Museum District."Dr. Muriel A. Howard, President of Buffalo State College said, "The new Burchfield-Penney Art Center will provide our students with wonderful new learning opportunities and a state-of-the-art facility. We are grateful to Governor Pataki and the Western New York delegation for their efforts for making this day possible.
"The new 75,000 square foot museum, designed by Gwathmey Siegel and Associates Architects, is scheduled to open in the spring of 2008. The two-story building will be the Burchfield-Penney’s first free-standing home and have a major presence on Elmwood Avenue in the heart of Buffalo’s Museum District. The new facility doubles gallery exhibition areas and provides more than six times as much space available for education and public programs. The total project cost of the new Burchfield-Penney Art Center is $30 million. An additional $3 million is being raised to fund an endowment.
To date, almost $28 million has been raised. During the construction phase of the project, the museum will generate more than 560 jobs and will have an economic impact of more than $54 million. About the Burchfield-Penney Art CenterThe Burchfield-Penney Art Center is a museum dedicated to the art and vision of Charles E. Burchfield and distinguished artists of Buffalo Niagara and Western New York State.
Through its affiliation with Buffalo State College, the museum encourages learning and celebrates our richly creative and diverse community. For more information, call (716) 878-6011 or visit www.burchfield-penney.org.
About Buffalo State CollegeThe only State University of New York college located in a metropolitan area, Buffalo State College’s 11,000 students enjoy tremendous advantages both on the 125-acre campus and throughout the community. Founded in 1871, Buffalo State is the largest four-year college in SUNY system, with more than 130 undergraduate and 44 graduate academic programs in the arts, sciences, education, and professional programs. For more information, visit www.buffalostate.edu.
About Gwathmey Siegel and Associates ArchitectsFounded in 1968, Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects is a New York-based architecture firm offering master planning, architectural, interior and product design services. Gwathmey Siegel has completed over three hundred projects for corporate, educational, cultural, healthcare, government and private clients throughout the United States and abroad.
The 65-person firm has an international reputation for architectural excellence, confirmed by 100 design awards, continuing recognition in the professional and general press, and inclusion in exhibitions and histories of contemporary architecture.
http://www.burchfield-penney.org
Contact: Kathleen HeyworthDirector of News Services, Burchfield-Penney Art Center Burchfield-Penney Art Center (716) 878-4529heyworkm@buffalostate.eduBurchfield
