Open Arts Studio
River Building
River Building
In early 2010, Grace Farms Foundation selected SANAA, a Tokyo-based architectural firm, to execute its vision for a vibrant place and multi-purpose building where visitors could experience nature, encounter the arts, pursue justice, foster community, and explore faith. SANAA’s design for the facility, known as the River building, was the first U.S. building designed by the architectural firm after they were awarded the Pritzker Prize. SANAA’s goal was to make the architecture of the River become part of the landscape without drawing attention to itself, demonstrating a high degree of sensitivity to the landscape and its topography. Structurally, the building of glass, concrete, steel, and wood is in essence a single long roof, which seems to float above the surface of the ground as it twists and turns across the landscape.
Grace Farms and its River building were honored with a number of prestigious design awards from local, national, and international organizations. In addition to excellence in design, many of the citations recognized the unique mission of Grace Farms and the integration of social good into the concept of a publicly available space.
Awards
ASLA PA-DE Honor Award in General Design, Grace Farms and OLIN Studio
Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize (MCHAP) 2014-2015, Grace Farms
AIA National 2017 Architecture Honor Award, Grace Farms
Chicago Athenaeum 2017 International Architecture Award, Grace Farms
The Architect’s Newspaper Best of Design Awards, 2016 Building of the Year (East), Grace Farms
AIA Connecticut 2016 Design Honor Award, Grace Farms
Illuminating Engineering Society, 2016 Lumen Awards, Award of Merit, BuroHappold for Grace Farms
Fast Company, 2016 Innovation by Design Awards, Social Good Finalist, Grace Farms
Project Goals
Architectural Directive
"Our goal with the River is to make the architecture become part of the landscape. We hope that those who are on the property will have a greater enjoyment of the beautiful environment and changing seasons through the spaces and experience created by the River."
— Sharon Prince, Chair and President
To create a venue of cultural interest and curiosity via open space, architecture, art, and design in hopes of providing people with a chance to do the following:
1. Experience Nature: Our aim is to draw people into this beautiful landscape, to enhance one’s experience of nature through all five senses, and to allow nature itself to inspire in us awe.
2. Foster Community: We hope to provide a warm, welcoming environment that fosters personal relationships through passive and active, social, and artistic activities.
3. Pursue Justice: We will offer resources and feature opportunities to improve lives by helping others, showing mercy, and advancing justice together.
4. Explore Faith: We will aspire to create an environment for reflection, study, discussion, and worship.
River Building Timelapse Aug 2013–Aug 2015
© 2017-2022 Grace Farms Foundation
nature. arts. justice. community. faith.
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