The Chrysler Museum of Art Nears Completion of New Expansion for the Perry Glass Studio

NORFOLK, Va.– The Chrysler Museum of Art is proud to announce that the expansion of the Perry Glass Studio at 245 Grace Street in Norfolk is set to be completed in early 2025. This reimagined facility will serve as an incubator for glass artists at all levels, offering new and expanded opportunities to engage the community and the Museum’s academic partners in the glass arts.

This milestone represents the culmination of a $55 million capital campaign supported by over 300 donors, the City of Norfolk, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Led by local architecture firm Work Program Architects and the development team at Hourigan, this transformative project not only enhances the Chrysler Museum’s international reputation but positions Norfolk as a premier destination for the glass arts.

“The expanded Perry Glass Studio will allow our programming to reach a larger audience and serve our students in a more focused way,” says Robin Rogers, Glass Studio Manager and Program Director. “With dedicated spaces for different glass processes, new event spaces, and state-of-the-art amphitheater hotshop, this will be one of the finest glassmaking studios in the world.”

Phase one, which opened to the public in September 2024, added 24,000 square feet to the existing studio. The realigned entrance overlooks a beautiful rain garden filled with native, salt-tolerant plantings, one of many coastal resilience strategies. Inside, a welcoming lobby, which doubles as event and retail space, leads into a 200-seat amphitheater-style hotshop, providing a front-row seat to live performances and glassblowing demonstrations.

The addition of specialized workspaces for individual glass processes and increased classroom space, will more than double the Studio’s educational and programmatic offerings, enhancing the experience for everyone, from beginners to world-class glass artists.

“The studio is not simply a space for artistic expression,” says Mel Price, CEO of Work Program Architects. “It is a community stronghold that can withstand challenges—whether environmental, economic, or social—while continually welcoming artists, students, and the public.”

Phase two, which is focused on remodeling the original space, is on track for completion in early 2025. The Chrysler Museum looks forward to celebrating the completion of the Perry Glass Studio with a grand opening weekend from March 28–30, 2025. The weekend will feature a dynamic lineup of events, performances, and visiting artists showcasing the Studio’s enhanced capabilities.

For more information about the Perry Glass Studio’s programs, events, and classes, visit chrysler.org/glass.

ABOUT THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART
The Chrysler Museum of Art brings art and people together through experiences that delight, inform, and inspire. Internationally recognized for its collection of more than 35,000 objects, including one the largest glass collections in America, the Museum also includes free admission, the state-of-the-art Perry Glass Studio, a full-service restaurant, shop, theater, works on paper space, and oversees the historic Myers House. The Museum boasts an ambitious schedule of exhibitions, events, and programs, and has been nationally recognized for its commitment to inclusion through its innovative gallery host program. For more information, visit chrysler.org. Follow on social media @ChryslerMuseum to receive the latest updates.

####

For more information or interview assistance, please contact Tanya Kaish Keller, Public Relations Advisor, at Qantm Creative by phone 757-618-3655 or email tanya@qantmcreative.com.

High-resolution images and credits are available here. Permission and credit are required for the use of all images, print or digital. Cropping is not permitted.