2025 East Best Projects
Award of Merit, Cultural/Worship: Corning Museum of Glass B Building Studio Expansion
Corning Museum of Glass B Building Studio Expansion
Corning, N.Y.
Award of Merit
Submitted by LeChase Construction Services
Owner: Corning Museum of Glass
Lead Designer: CJS Architects
General Contractor: LeChase Construction Services
Structural Engineer: Jensen/BRV Engineering
Civil Engineer: Fagan Engineering
MEP Engineer: M/E Engineering
Owner’s Commissioning Agent: FST Technical Services
Substantial asbestos and lead-based paint abatement was required prior to rebuilding the interior of this historic 1950s-era industrial building for the 36,000-sq-ft expansion, which provides new opportunities for artists and guests to experience glassblowing.
The expansion’s workshop-themed interior includes metal wall panels that shield against heat and sparks from furnaces while special HVAC and fire systems handle extreme heat from kilns, furnaces and greenhouse effects.
After-hours remediation work prevented disrupting shared utility services to other buildings, with temporary heaters installed to protect pipes during shutdowns. To install a new mechanical penthouse, holes were cut in the roof to extend structural columns, which were used to support a large tent shielding the existing underlying substation from weather during construction.
Thousands of screw holes were plugged prior to pouring the penthouse slab to prevent concrete from leaking into the building.
