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September 2024 – The newly expanded Perry Glass Studio at 245 Grace Street, Norfolk, will reopen in mid-September. Public glass classes resume on September 12, 2024 and glassmaking demonstrations return on September 14, 2024.
This reopening marks the completion of the first phase of the expansion. The second phase is now underway, remodeling the original studio to include additional classrooms and hotshop. With progress remaining steady, we look forward to celebrating the grand opening of the Perry Glass Studio with a weekend of festivities this spring. The opening celebration will showcase the scope of opportunity and amenities the new space has to offer through exciting performances, visiting artists, a free family day, and more. Stay tuned for more details.
June 2024 – The Perry Glass Studio is temporarily closed as we transition into our new Studio space. Classes and demonstrations will resume at the end of summer.
Meanwhile, site work has ramped up production with curb and gutter installation in the future parking lot and layout setup for the serpentine walk. Underground utilities work on Duke Street has also been completed. The electrical subcontractor has installed light fixtures for the catwalk, stairwells, and lobby. Additionally, theater seats have been delivered.
Please stay tuned for updates and announcements. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon!
April 2024 – Work continues across all fronts. Significant progress was made with the painting of the hot shop theater, classrooms, offices, and much of the entryway lobby. Installation of flooring is moving along. Interior Doors are currently being installed and exterior metal wall panel and terracotta installation remain ongoing. With each step forward, the Studio expansion is coming together, bringing our vision to life.
February 22, 2024 – We continue to make strides across the exterior of the expansion, installing metal panels, terracotta panels, and brick veneer. Additionally, the concrete subcontractor has completed pouring the Garden Terrace. Meanwhile, crews are hard at work inside, installing conduit, ductwork, mechanical equipment, and panelboards. Progress is on track as we continue to build toward the future of the Perry Glass Studio.
January 11, 2024 – Concrete stairs for the observation balcony have been poured. The observation balcony is part of the new 200-seat theater allowing the Glass Studio to accommodate larger audiences for demonstrations, educational sessions, and events.
Meanwhile, masonry work continues with the installation of brick veneer on exterior walls. Inside, interior installation of conduit, ductwork, sprinkler lines, and water lines is underway, ensuring a seamless infrastructure for future activities. As we move forward, we invite you to be part of this transformative project by supporting the campaign.
November 3, 2023 – A recent beam signing ceremony brought together the Chrysler team, board members, stakeholders, and the construction and design teams, all of whom left their mark on this exciting new facility.
As we eagerly anticipate the next stages of this transformative project, we invite you to become an integral part of the future of the Perry Glass Studio. Make a lasting impact through a gift of a named brick that will be featured in the Passageway between the old and new studio. Each brick not only leaves a mark but will also help thousands of artists and visitors learn and enjoy the art of glass in the Studio for years to come.
Sept, 28, 2023 – The masonry team has accomplished the completion of the North and East Hot Shop Walls, with work continuing on the South Hot Shop Wall. Additionally, they’ve been busy installing brick veneer on the East wall of the existing Glass Studio. On the concrete front, we’ve been focused on the North side of the site, carefully excavating footings while navigating active utility lines in the area. Simultaneously, interior backfilling of the building pad is progressing well, aided by excavators and tampers. Steel mobilization kicked off on September 18th, with erection beginning on the East side of the job site. Framing activities are underway in the spaces designated for classrooms and workshops. Lastly, our Electrical subcontractor has been working closely with concrete and masonry teams to coordinate conduit installations within their respective work areas. Progress is on track, and we look forward to the next stages of this exciting project.
August 1, 2023 – The masonry team continued to lay CMU blocking adjacent to the existing Glass Studio and removed scaffolding on the east side, exposing “castle”-like wall, door frame, and contact points for steel installation. Hydro-Mobile vertical scaffolding has been installed around the elevator pit, facilitating the stacking of the elevator shaft. Concrete work remains a focus, involving excavating, erecting wall forms and rebar cages, and pouring walls and footings around the perimeter. The Mechanical and Electrical subcontractors are engaged in ongoing coordination efforts with concrete and masonry teams to ensure the seamless installation of conduit within their respective work areas. Progress remains steady.
June 22, 2023 – On May 8, the ground enhancement process began with the arrival of Rigid Inclusion equipment. Rigid Inclusions are unreinforced, grouted columns installed in very soft soils to meet settlement criteria and improve bearing capacity. A total of 408 Rigid Inclusions, reaching a depth of 38 ½ feet were successfully installed.
Following the completion of the Rigid Inclusions, the construction crew began prepping and pouring concrete footers, which will be the cornerstones of the building. This process involves moderate excavation, construction of forms to shape the footings, and installation of rebar “cages” to enhance strength and prevent any cracking or splitting. Things are starting to take shape – this process goes around the entire perimeter of the new expansion!
May 5, 2023 – Please note, Grace Street will be closed at the pedestrian crossing between the Glass Studio and Chrysler Museum on Friday, May 5 (daytime working hours) and Monday, May 8 (daytime working hours). At close of business Friday the road will be covered and opened for the weekend traffic.
The main Museum parking lot on Grace Street will still be accessible at all times, along with the additional lots along Mowbray Arch and Botetourt Street. We will make all efforts to minimize impacts to the facilities and neighbors and ensure full access to parking is as convenient as possible.
April 25, 2023 – Demolition of the existing Glass Studio started this week. The workshop (once a drive-through and overhang of the original bank building) will become an entryway vestibule to the new building.
April 17, 2023 – A view of the site from the construction trailer. The parking lot previously located along Duke Street has been torn up and vegetation removed. This area will be home to a majority of the new expansion.
April 3, 2023 – New to the site, you’ll find the construction fence and bright yellow “FODS”, or Foreign Object Debris System. This reusable construction entrance pad is designed to minimize crossover contamination and works by spreading the tire apart and depositing the mat’s dirt, rock, mud, or other sediments. Thus, keeping a cleaner worksite and minimizing runoff.
March 30, 2023 – Community Chat with the Chrysler Museum of Art about the Perry Glass Studio Expansion. Erik Neil, the Macon and Joan Brock Director of the Chrysler Museum of Art talks to WAVY about the project.
March 27, 2023 – Construction equipment and the crew’s trailer have arrived! To make room, the parking lot adjacent to the Perry Glass Studio has closed. This may cause some disruptions during your next visit to the Museum, as the Glass Studio lot will no longer be available for visitor parking. However, the visitor parking lot at the corner of Grace and Duke Street will still be for Museum visitors (visitors only, and while on premise, please!!). Additional parking may be found at the York Street Garage, located at 215 W York Street.
Consider taking public transportation on your next visit to the Museum:
• Lightrail stop: York Street / Freemason Station
• HRT bus stops: Olney & Mowbray Arch or Olney & Chrysler Museum
March 22, 2023 – The Chrysler Museum of Art will begin construction of the new 18,000-square-foot expansion of the Perry Glass Studio next week. This transformational project is led by local architectural firm, Work Project Architects, and construction and development firm, Hourigan. Construction is anticipated to take approximately 19 months and will be completed in two phases. The expansion is made possible because of the success of a $55 million capital campaign that included more than 300 donors, as well as the participation from the city of Norfolk and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
December 2022 – Approximately thirty supporters joined the First Gather Circle. This group of donors will make a monthly contribution to the Museum for the next year, supporting the 2022–2023 annual fund—which makes daily operation of the Museum and Studio possible.
November 5, 2022 – Nearly 500 Museum supporters attended the 50th Anniversary Gala, a culminating event to celebrate the anniversary of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.’s transformative gift and the success of Campaign for the Chrysler. The event raised more than $178,000 to support the newly established School and Teacher Programs Endowment. Over 300 additional guests joined for the After Party and continued the celebration at the Museum.
While Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.’s gift of art in 1971 transformed the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences, the remarkable support from the Hampton Roads community has only strengthened the world-class collection. Our generous sponsors, Museum members, and supporters made this tremendously successful evening possible. Thank you!
June 27, 2022 – Today we broke ground on a cornerstone of The Campaign for the Chrysler, the expansion of the Perry Glass Studio. This expansion will double the educational and programmatic offerings currently available at the Studio, helping to elevate our standing as one of the leading glass institutions in the world. The expansion will house three hot shops, dedicated classrooms for each glassmaking technique, and a performance theater that seats 200. The increased capacity of the Studio will allow for more and deeper partnerships with community organizations and fine art departments at area universities.
We are incredibly grateful to Doug and Pat Perry and the Perry Family Foundation who ignited this campaign and provided the lead gift to make the Studio expansion possible. With the tremendous support of our Board of Trustees, City of Norfolk, and community, we plan to expand educational opportunities and make our facilities more accessible than ever.
June 2022 – The Chrysler Museum of Art recently launched the public phase of a $50 million capital campaign, announcing gifts and commitments totaling over $42 million.
The Campaign for the Chrysler will improve accessibility to the permanent collection, increase learning through art, and sustain the financial strength of the Museum. The priorities for the campaign include the expansion of the Perry Glass Studio, the creation of the Goode Works on Paper Study Center, and the establishment of endowments for school programs, technology and interactive media, and exhibitions. The funding from this campaign will also help ensure that the Museum remains one of the few art museums with free admission.
