arkell museum
The Arkell Foundation| Canajoharie New York
“We wanted to be able to do more with our art collection, to benefit the community and to entice tourists and travelers. We wanted a facility worthy of the art gallery we have.”
The Arkell Museum epitomizes the core mission of designLAB architects. This project provided the opportunity to infuse new life into a forgotten historic structure through the influx of engaging new programs and thoughtful architecture. designLAB has created a new museum and renovated the historic 20th Century library at the site of the original Beech-Nut factory in Canajoharie, New York. The formal art galleries defined by rectangular roof monitors are arranged around the Great Hall, providing views into the heroic forms of the landscape. The Great Hall interprets the history of the region including early settlements, transportation, and commerce. The 2,000 SF surface of the floor features a historic map of the region, executed in transparent stains on the concrete floor.
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Type: Renovation & Addition
Size: 30,000 SF
Status: Completed, 2007
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2008 Merit Award for Design Excellence, AIA New England
2008 Citation for Design Honor Award, Boston Society of Architects
impact
The design team not only provided the basic requirements to conserve and showcase the art, but also leveraged the project as a regional destination. designLAB worked together with the Arkell Foundation, the Town of Canajoharie, the New York State Thruway Authority, and the neighboring Baseball Hall of Fame and Fennimore Museum to maximize the economic impact of the museum, and reinforce the cultural corridor from the Proctor Munson Museum in Utica, to the Dia: Beacon in Beacon. The attendance at the Museum’s opening exceeded the total population of Canajoharie; the Museum now serves as a critical piece of upstate New York’s Cultural Tourism network. The entire project— both renovation and new construction— was accomplished with private funding at a modest cost of $285 per square foot.