On its 45th anniversary, the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust announced plans for a new visitor and education center to be built at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park.
The proposed design plan comes from John Ronan Architects, who also designed Chicago’s Poetry Foundation. The goal of the new space is to strengthen the capacity and educational impact of the trust, as well as build its relationship with the Oak Park community.
“Our proposal for the visitor center provides the story's foreword, and enhances our understanding and appreciation of [Frank Lloyd Wright],” says John Ronan. “We are very excited to be part of this effort to extend his historic legacy.”
The 20,000-square-foot center will have a reception hall, an information and ticketing area, an outdoor plaza for special events and receptions, a conference area, visitor amenities, and a gift shop. There will also be a library for curatorial research. The current home and studio’s garage will be transformed into a gallery for the Trust’s permanent collections.
The plan would extend an existing garden wall to define the campus. The building itself is low and horizontal, alluding to the style that made Wright famous. The visitor center will sink below street level and be approached through a sloped lawn, which will serve as a seating area for events. According to Ronan, the center is “a discreet presence foregrounding the existing buildings on the site."
“This plan unites the story of American architectural achievement, past to present, and invites a new generation to explore their own creative potential,” says Frank Lloyd Wright Trust president and CEO Celeste Adams.
Ronan’s design was chosen from a selection of finalists including Krueck + Sexton Architects, Pappageorge Haymes Partners, Perkins + Will, and Vinci Hamp Architects.
“Ronan’s proposal was chosen for its design simplicity, quiet presence within the site, and use of materials referencing the site and surrounding neighborhood,” board chair Bob Miller said in a statement.
Of the $5 to $10 million needed to complete it, the project currently has raised about $3 million in private commitments. The plan will be submitted to the Village of Oak Park for review, and could break ground in spring 2020.
