Corning Museum of Glass / Thomas Phifer and Partners

Architects: Thomas Phifer and Partners
Location: The Corning Museum of Glass, 1 Museum Way, Corning, NY 14830, USA
Area: 100000.0 ft2
Year: 2015
Photographs: Courtesy of Corning Museum of Glass

Project Team: Thomas Phifer FAIA-Director, Gabriel Smith FAIA LEED AP-Director, Adam Ruffin-Associate Director, Katie Bennett-Associate Director, Remon Alberts, Bethany Mahre, Brad Cooke, Mo Gagnon, Gerry Gendreau, Eric Ho, Isaiah King, Brad Kingsley, Joanna Luo, Stephen Varady, Colin Ward
Structural Engineer: Guy Nordenson and Associates
Mep And Fire Engineer: Altieri Sebor Wieber
Landscape Architect: Reed Hilderbrand
Facade Consultant: Heintges
Daylighting And Lighting Design: Arup
Climate Engineer: Transsolar
Civil Engineer And Leed Consultant: O’Brien & Gere
Waterproofing Consultant: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Environmental Graphics: 2×4
Cost Consultant: Stuart-Lynn Company
Spec Writer: Construction Specifications
Acoustics And Audio Video Design: Jaffe Holden
Theatre Design: Theatre Projects
Construction Management: Gilbane + Welliver

From the architect.

The Corning Museum of Glass North Wing Expansion provides 100,000 square feet of new space, including spacious light-filled galleries for its collection of contemporary works in glass, as well as one of the world’s largest facilities for glassblowing demonstrations and live glass design sessions.

The new gallery building—which will be the largest space anywhere dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art in glass—features skylighting with a sophisticated light-filtering system that is integrated with the structural roof beams. Inside, the works of art will be displayed largely independent of the curvilinear plaster walls, encouraging circulation and allowing contemplation of larger works in glass. The gallery experience is punctuated by a 150 foot long window that provides views to the campus green and reorients the visitor to the larger landscape.

The clean white glass façade of the new contemporary gallery building is juxtaposed with the black exterior of the restored ventilator building. The project features outdoor gathering areas for the public, including a one-acre campus green that will provide views into the luminous new gallery and glassmaking spaces. The new campus green is bordered by the 1951 Harrison & Abramowitz Corning Office building, the 2001 Smith-Miller Hawkinson façade, and new North Wing Expansion.

The design includes an innovative renovation of the iconic ventilator building of the former Steuben Glass factory adjacent to the museum’s current building. The renovation provides seating for 500 people, offering 360-degree views of glassmaking in a new state-of-the-art glass studio.