Art Sculpture at Peace Arch Park Artists: A Transformational Redesign for a Beloved 500-Acre Sculpture Park

The Storm King Art Center in upstate New York is about to embark on an exciting transformation with a $45m redesign project that will enhance the visitor experience and environmental biodiversity of its beloved 500-acre sculpture park. The intentionally inconspicuous structure, the first purpose-built building on the site, will be instrumental to continuing our work with artists on the scale that we do, says Nora Lawrence, Storm King's artistic director and chief curator.

The redesign project includes the construction of a new Conservation, Fabrication, and Maintenance Building, which will have 22 ft-high ceilings and feature five large access doors. The building will also include a 1,000 sq. ft space for conservation, fabrication, and maintenance, making it easier to care for the park's extensive collection of modern and contemporary art.

The project is not just about constructing new buildings, but also about creating a more immersive experience for visitors. Several international architecture and landscape design firms are involved in the project, including Heneghan Peng Architects, WXY Architecture and Urban Design, Gustafson Porter and Bowman, and Reed Hilderbrand.

Over the last decade, visitor numbers at Storm King have risen exponentially, from around 80,000 visitors in 2012 to nearly 222,000 last year. With projections for the future, the redesign is essential to ensuring that the park can continue to welcome and engage its growing audience.

The project's design will not only enhance the visitor experience but also contribute to environmental biodiversity. The park's unique landscape and collection of modern and contemporary art will be preserved and showcased in a way that encourages visitors to explore and appreciate the natural beauty of the Hudson Highlands.

According to Peter Stern, the grandson of the arts patron Ralph E. Ogden, who founded the centre with his father, H. Stern, in 1960, the redesign is necessary due to increased attendance over the last decade and projections for the future. The advent of social media has also contributed to Storm King's growing popularity, making it an ideal time to revamp the park's infrastructure.

The transformational redesign project at Storm King Art Center promises to be a game-changer for this beloved 500-acre sculpture park. With its new Conservation, Fabrication, and Maintenance Building, enhanced visitor experience, and commitment to environmental biodiversity, the park will continue to inspire and engage art lovers from around the world.

Art sculpture at peace arch park artists