At the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut, science and art intertwine in more ways than one. New Orleans–based firm Eskew + Dumez + Ripple has designed a new wing for the museum faced with precast concrete panels and glass. The addition’s stonework references the striated geological bedrock found in local quarries while being layered in banded proportions, forming a balance between the natural environment and artistic expression.
Initially conceived as a private residence in the mid-19th century for lawyer, clergyman and historian Francis Lister Hawks, the original structure was purchased by textile merchant Robert Moffat Bruce who turned the house over to the town of Greenwich so it could live on as a natural history and art museum. Today, it’s known as the Bruce Museum. Subsequent renovations over the years and a growing collection of art and objects has made the former residence into the cultural destination it is today. Completion of an expansion plan dubbed The New Bruce is almost done. The effort will double the size of the museum by expanding its existing footprint, and the new wing designed by Eskew + Dumez + Ripple lies at the core of this process.
