BURCHFIELD PENNEY ART CENTER AT BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS MUSEUM “BUILDY” AWARD
Learn more at http://www.midatlanticmuseums.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/BuildyAward2010.pdf
WASHINGTON, DC - The winner of the Second Building Museums® “Buildy” Award: the Burchfield Penney
Art Center at Buffalo State College in Buffalo, New York. Accepting the award is Ted Pietrzak, Executive
Director, a visionary leader who guided the museum through its successful move to a new, award-winning
facility designed by Gwathmey Siegel Associates and Architects.
The “Buildy” Award will be presented the evening of March 1 at 5:30 PM in the Rotunda of the National
Museum of the American Indian, New York, N.Y. at the 2010 Building Museums® Symposium presented by
the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums.
About the Burchfield Penney building project: Highlights of this building project include an extremely
inclusive planning process establishing an ongoing partnership between Buffalo State College, the museum
and the community; successful fundraising from a variety of sources; a well managed project that opened on
time and under budget; a design that includes dramatic new spaces, serves the needs of the museum, the
college and the community. The Burchfield Penney undertook a three stage planning process that
engaged the community and examined best design practices. Over 350 people represented staff, students,
faculty, board, community, artists and representatives from the architectural firm. The result is a building that
has been celebrated by its constituents with over 81,000 visitors in the first year. In addition, the museum
has received Silver LEED certification (making it the first LEED certified art museum in NY State), and
numerous national and local awards including recognition by the AIA of Western New York. Ted Pietrzak
has served as Executive Director of the Burchfield Penney for the past eleven years. His leadership has
brought a vast number of stakeholders together in planning, funding, and building a facility responsive to all.
Ted continues to steward the museum through its exhibitions and projects that serve the mission.
Museum Mission: The 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. Through our
affiliation with Buffalo State College, we encourage learning and celebrate our richly creative and diverse
community.
Expansion Highlights: The 84,000 sf building is sited on the campus of Buffalo State College, across the
street from Buffalo’s renowned Albright Knox Art Gallery in the heart of the historic Elmwood Museum
District The building replaces a 21,000 sf, space on the 3rd floor of a 1920s academic building. With 19,000
sf of exhibition galleries, education spaces, library/archives area, art conservation lab, 156-seat auditorium,
café and museum store. The main feature gallery is 140 by 48 feet with a ceiling height of 28 feet, a total of
6,720 sq. ft.
• New Construction: $ 27. 2 million - 84,000 square feet facility
• Opened in November 2008
Community Impact: The city of Buffalo is undergoing an economic revitalization strongly based on its arts,
culture and architecture - and the Burchfield Penney has created a facility to serve this dynamic arts
community. The new museum has added to the re-branding of Buffalo as an arts and culture destination,
having gained significant national media attention. Attendance since opening has exceeded feasibility
estimates, rising from 17,500 to over 81,000 in its first year since opening the new building. The museum
has conducted market research studies before and after opening, which focused on customer satisfaction
and brand awareness. The results have shown overall satisfaction rates increased as visitors commented
favorably on the museum as a friendly, accessible, and down to earth experience.
Finance: The museum raised funds for its capital campaign from a variety of sources including the State of
New York, SUNY, private foundations and individuals. The total raised over $36 million allowed for
completion of the building, growth in the endowment and support for ongoing programming. The museum
has managed the post-opening budget with no setbacks in a time of fiscal challenge for many
organizations. Increases in membership and store revenue as well as admission fees have been significant.
Awards: Since the Burchfield Penney opened its doors it has received a number of awards and certificates.
The building was Silver LEED certified by the US Green Building Council in February 2009. It has also
received a number of awards including the Outstanding Leadership in Sustainable Design given by the
Western New York Sustainable Energy Association Trust in October 2009. Finally it has received the 2009
Western New York American Institute of Architects Honor Award for New Building Over 25,000 square feet.
Leadership: The Burchfield Penney has enjoyed strong board support with key leadership from:
• Past Buffalo State College President, Dr. Muriel A. Howard
• Dr. Stanley Kardonsky, VP of Finance and Management, Buffalo State College
• Past Board of Trustees Chairs: Robert Budin, James Brandys, Gary M. Brost, Cindy Abbott
Letro and current chair Carol E. Heckman
• Capital Campaign Chair: Paula Joy Reinhold
Museum Staff: Director: Ted Pietrzak
Chief Operating Officer: Carolyn Morris-Hunt
Associate Director, Public Programming: Don Metz
Head of Marketing and Public Relations: Kathleen McMorrow Heyworth
Associate Director, Collections and Exhibitions: Scott Propeack
Design Architect: Gwathmey Siegel and Associates Architects LLP
Principal Architect: Charles Gwathmey Project Architect: Stephen Sudak
Construction Manager: LPCiminelli Inc
About the Building Museums® Symposium:
Building Museums® is an international symposium presented annually by the Mid-Atlantic Association of
Museums (MAAM) and open to all interested in the design and planning of museums. The 6th Annual
Symposium will be held in New York City, February 28 – March 2, 2010 at the National Museum of the
American Indian and the Museum of Jewish Heritage as well as additional museum sites.
This symposium is for architects, museum leaders, planners, project managers, technical experts, and all
those who plan or implement new construction, renovation, or expansion projects for museums.