ESD announces groundbreaking for new Graycliff Estate Visitor Center

Visitor centers can be essential elements of architecturally significant campuses. They can greatly contribute to the overall visitor experience, providing them with a place to anchor and acclimatize, while preparing for the adventure that awaits them.

With that in mind, Empire State Development (ESD) announced that the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Graycliff Estate will add a new visitor center to its grounds. The new 4,400 square foot state-of-the-art building will help tell the illustrious story of the recently renovated historic home and surrounding 8-acre site. Ultimately, the structure will help tell the story of Darwin and Isabelle Martin’s famous summer home on Lake Erie.

Graycliff was designed in 1926 by Frank Lloyd Wright, and built between 1927-1929 for Isabelle R. Martin, wife of industrialist Darwin Martin, as a summer home for the family on the bluffs above Lake Erie. 

According to ESD, the project includes a complete renovation and expansion of the existing Welcome Center building that will significantly increase Graycliff’s ability to offer additional programs, events and amenities throughout the year for the growing base of visitors, as well as support staff. and volunteers in various ways.

“The magnificent properties of Frank Lloyd Wright are an important part of New York’s rich architectural heritage and scenic beauty. The Graycliff Visitor Center project builds on Governor Hochul’s efforts to grow New York’s tourism economy by supporting and expanding our unique destinations,” said ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. “Thanks to the investment of New York State, as well as that of many individuals and charitable foundations, the new visitor center will complement the completed Graycliff restoration projects and increase the number of tourists attracted to the from Western New York, from across the state and around the world. »

New York State Arts Council Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “We are grateful to Governor Hochul and the Legislature for their support. These projects are essential to the prosperity and well-being of our creative industry and communities, especially as we continue the recovery of our creative sector. This support will help stimulate local economies, catalyze investments in our communities and ensure the dynamism of our cultural organizations for today and the future. Congratulations to Graycliff by Frank Lloyd Wright, NYSCA is proud to support your contributions to the arts and culture of New York.

The Visitor Center project is made possible with $1.25 million from the New York State Council on the Arts, $1 million from Empire State Development and more than $1 million from the New York Power Authority.

The eight and a half-acre Graycliff property now looks as it did when it was enjoyed by the Martin family in the 1930s.

“Buffalo and Western New York have long been a destination for architectural tourism, and they increasingly contribute to our local economy,” said Senator Sean M. Ryan, who recently added 300 $250,000 to a previous grant of $250,000 to help close the funding gap and ensure groundbreaking on the visitors center. “Our region is home to a wide variety of internationally renowned architectural gems, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff is one of our region’s most beloved historic cultural assets, attracting admirers from around the world. The new visitor center will help Graycliff provide an even more memorable experience for the estate’s many visitors each year. I was proud to support this project in its early stages and can’t wait to see the finished product.

Overall, the $4 million multi-purpose addition:

• Takes advantage of an existing concrete block gymnasium that was built by the Piarist Fathers, who purchased the site in the 1950s.
• The old gymnasium serves as the current welcome center, and in the new design it will be enhanced to house an expanded gift shop, ticketing area, exhibit space, indoor-outdoor cafe also serving as space event, an administrative area which includes a lounge guide and toilets.
• Extending outwards from the original structure, a bright, open lobby creates a new face for the building and a hub for rotating exhibitions, workshops, lectures, presentations, events special events and meetings.

Anna Kaplan, Executive Director of Graycliff Estate, said: “This is an achievement made possible by true community engagement. The project is absolutely essential for Graycliff and couldn’t happen at a better time. The Welcome Center will have a significant impact on our ability to not only showcase this remarkable regional asset, but also to be a dynamic community partner.

Basar Girit, founding partner of SITU, said: “We are very excited to be part of the team shaping the next chapter of this historic site. Our design for the new Welcome Center seeks to augment Wright and Shipman’s original vision with a contemporary approach guided by programmatic flexibility and environmental sustainability. The highly adaptable architecture is deeply integrated into the landscape to stimulate indoor and outdoor programming opportunities. We are confident that the Visitor Center will continue to enable Graycliff to be a vibrant cultural destination in the region for decades to come. »

Graycliff Conservancy Board Chairman Charles LeFevre said, “The recent significant funding from New York State adds to major commitments supported by Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz – an initial amount of $500,000 in support of the Erie County Cultural Investment Project, supplemented by $250,000 led by Legislator John’s office. Mills. Private support from the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, the Baird Foundation, the East Hill Foundation, Thomas Hagen, the M&T Charitable Foundation, the Walter E. Schmid Family Foundation and many others was also committed.

Groundbreaking for the new Welcome Center is scheduled for fall 2024, with a completion date of 2026 – fittingly to celebrate the centennial of Frank Lloyd Wright’s design of the property.

To experience Graycliff in its fully restored splendor and reserve your spot for a tour, visit www.experiencegraycliff.org or call (716) 947-9217.