Historic Reynolda House Undergoes Major Renovation
Visitors to the Reynolda House Museum of American Art should plan ahead as significant renovations are set to temporarily close part of the museum. Starting in January, the historic section of the museum will be closed for seven months to undergo an $8 million upgrade of its HVAC system.
The current system, which includes units dating back to 1937, will be replaced to enhance both the preservation of art and visitor comfort. Phil Archer, the Betsy Main Babcock Deputy Director of the museum, highlighted the original design of the bungalow-style home, which emphasized natural ventilation with its shady porches.
“But when we became a museum of art, we had to privilege the safety of the paintings,” Archer noted. “The good thing about this new system is it’ll kind of be able to do both, because we’ll be able to control room by room a lot better.”
Such improvements are expected to maintain artwork in optimal condition while also ensuring a more enjoyable experience for guests. Although the historic house will be closed, the Museum’s Babcock wing is set to reopen in March for the spring exhibit, “Layered Looking: Making Sense of Art.” The entire museum is anticipated to fully reopen on August 5 for the fall exhibition.
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