Yale Center for British Art

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Yale Center for British Art

Library Court after building conservation. 

Credit

© Richard Caspole, Yale Center for British Art

Site overview

Designed by Louis I. Kahn, one of the most significant American architects of the twentieth century, the building embodies the masterful realization of architectural ideas he had previously explored in notable commissions, such as the Yale University Art Gallery extension, Phillips Exeter Academy Library, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the Kimbell Art Museum. Lauded for its intimate gallery spaces, noble courts, restrained palette of materials, and delicate handling of daylight, the building was awarded the 2005 American Institute of Architect’s prestigious Twenty-Five Year Award.

Yale Center for British Art

Entrance Court | Left: Pre-Conservation which shows the sun bleached white oak paneling; Right: Post-Conservation

Credit

© Richard Caspole, Yale Center for British Art

Site overview

Designed by Louis I. Kahn, one of the most significant American architects of the twentieth century, the building embodies the masterful realization of architectural ideas he had previously explored in notable commissions, such as the Yale University Art Gallery extension, Phillips Exeter Academy Library, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the Kimbell Art Museum. Lauded for its intimate gallery spaces, noble courts, restrained palette of materials, and delicate handling of daylight, the building was awarded the 2005 American Institute of Architect’s prestigious Twenty-Five Year Award.

Yale Center for British Art

 Fourth Floor gallery | Left: Pre-Conservation; Right: Post-Conservation

 

Credit

© Richard Caspole, Yale Center for British Art (Left)

© Elizabeth Felicella/Esto (Right)

Site overview

Designed by Louis I. Kahn, one of the most significant American architects of the twentieth century, the building embodies the masterful realization of architectural ideas he had previously explored in notable commissions, such as the Yale University Art Gallery extension, Phillips Exeter Academy Library, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the Kimbell Art Museum. Lauded for its intimate gallery spaces, noble courts, restrained palette of materials, and delicate handling of daylight, the building was awarded the 2005 American Institute of Architect’s prestigious Twenty-Five Year Award.

Awards

Design

Award of Excellence

Civic

The Civic/Institutional Design Award of Excellence is awarded for the restoration of the Yale Center for British Art in New Haven, Connecticut. The Yale Center for British Art and its collection are the gift of philanthropist Paul Mellon. After nearly forty years since its opening in 1977, the Yale Center faced escalating conservation pressures. In response, Amy Meyers, the Center’s current director, commissioned a detailed conservation plan for the building titled Louis I. Kahn and the Yale Center for British Art: A Conservation Plan and published in association with Yale University Press.

 

This pioneering document, the first of its kind in the United States for a building completed after World War II, identified the Center’s most culturally significant attributes, established policies for the future care of the building, and formed the basis for the building conservation project. The project was phased strategically as the majority of construction was completed in a ten-month period in 2015.

“The renovation of the Yale Center for British Art is a case study for how to approach the preservation of modern architecture appropriately. The complex, multi-phase project paves the way for future projects through its thoughtful conservation plan and publication of those findings detailing elements of the building that were once hidden and sensitively bringing the building into the 21st century.”

- 2017 Awards Jury
Client

Yale University Office of Facilities, Yale Center for British Art

Restoration Team
  • Knight Architecture LLC (Restoration Architects) | George Knight, AIA, Daphne Kalomiris, AIA, Nikolaos Tombras, Megan Milawski, Jeffrey Pollack, AIA, Kyle Dugdale, AIA, Dylan Hayn, Thomas Day, Amrita Raja, Britton Rogers 
  • Yale Univeristy Office of Facilitites  (Department of Planning and Project Management)
  • Turner Construction Company  (General Contractor)
  • Peter Inskip & Peter Jenkins Architects Limited  (Conservation Architect)
  • Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (Structural Engineer and Building Conservation Consultant)
  • BVH Integrated Services - Engineer (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection)
  • Philip R. Serman, P.E. (Code Consultant)
  • Hefferan Partnership Lighting Design (Theatrical Lighting Consultant)
  • Cavanaugh Tocci Associates (Acoustics, Audiovisual and Theater Consultant)
  • Staples & Charles Limited (Furnishings, Fixtures and Equipment Consultant)
  • Michael Morris, Metropolitan Museum of Art (Architectural Conservator)
  • Strong Chen Graphic Designers (Graphic Design)
  • LMB Facilities Solutions, LLC (Logistics Consultant)
  • Stephen Saitas Designs (Exhibition Designer)

 

How to Visit

Museum, open to the public.

Location

1080 Chapel St.
New Haven, CT, 06510

Country

US
More visitation information

Library Court after building conservation. 

Credit:

© Richard Caspole, Yale Center for British Art

Entrance Court | Left: Pre-Conservation which shows the sun bleached white oak paneling; Right: Post-Conservation

Credit:

© Richard Caspole, Yale Center for British Art

 Fourth Floor gallery | Left: Pre-Conservation; Right: Post-Conservation

 

Credit:

© Richard Caspole, Yale Center for British Art (Left)

© Elizabeth Felicella/Esto (Right)

Designer(s)

Other designers

Pfisterer, Tor & Associates

Pellechia and Myers Architects

Related News

Commission

1969

Completion

1975