New Ideas For An Old Museum

New director of the oldest public art museum in the country dumps design, puts renovations on hold.

2 minute read

July 26, 2003, 1:00 PM PDT

By Connie Chung


The expansion of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, CT, will be put on hold as the new director "and a committee of board and staff members are taking a fresh look at the expansion and renovation project, the principal raison d'etre of a $120 million fund-raising campaign announced two years ago." According to the director, "The Atheneum needs to assess how it will fit into a downtown that's being expanded by the 33-acre Adriaen's Landing project." He also "wants to be certain that form follows function, that whatever is built meets the priorities of the institution. To that end, he and the committee have begun a series of meetings with the staff, to be followed by meetings with board members, volunteer groups and members of the community." The director added that "it will be 'unlikely' that the Atheneum will build the design developed by Ben van Berkel of UN Studio of the Netherlands and Fox & Fowle Architects of New York." While the "innovative design was generally praised, some questioned whether its neo-Baroque look meshed with the older Victorian buildings....Perhaps most importantly, there were 'serious questions' about whether the work could have been done for the $80 million projected cost." The director, however, hopes that Maya Lin, who was to design the landscape for the renovation, "will still be involved in the new project, once it's decided what that will be."

Thanks to Connie Chung

Friday, July 25, 2003 in The Hartford Courant

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Hot air balloons rise over Downtown Boise with the State Capitol building visible amidst the high rises.

The Five Most-Changed American Cities

A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

April 23, 2025 - GoodMigrations

Aerial view of flooding during Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

‘Quality Work, Fast’: NC Gears up for Homebuilding After Helene, Trying to Avoid Past Pitfalls

The state will field bids to demolish, repair and rebuild homes in the mountains. After struggles in eastern NC, officials aim to chart a different course.

45 minutes ago - NC Newsline

Washington

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing

A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

May 1 - Streetsblog USA

Bluebird sitting on branch of green bush.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire

Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

May 1 - AP News

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.