The Frick has embarked on a series of construction projects. Together, they will improve accessibility to our site, preserve our collections for future generations, and enhance the beauty and safety of our garden campus. Curious to learn more? Read on to discover what these projects entail, what they mean for your next visit, and how you can become involved.
In the 52 years since The Frick Art Museum first opened its doors, we have welcomed more than 1,000,000 visitors to The Frick Pittsburgh. Our collection of museums, visitor amenities and verdant campus are a treasure of Pittsburgh’s East End. The current projects will enhance it all—from The Frick Art Museum to Clayton, from the Car and Carriage Museum to the Greenhouse and Café.
Why are we undertaking them? To preserve what you love best about the Frick for the next generation, while providing you with safer, more accessible, and more beautiful means of navigating and enjoying our site today.
What’s happening?
Clayton Chimneys
You also will notice scaffolding around Clayton, the historic home of the Pittsburgh industrialist and internationally distinguished art collector Henry Clay Frick. From August 2022 through May 2023, all five chimneys will be repaired.
- Masons will repoint the brick chimneys.
- Architectural preservationists will take samples of the original paint.
- Those samples will strengthen our understanding of the original paint colors.
- The architectural preservationists will also test a new paint-like product and carefully monitor it over the course of the next year.
- The results of that test will inform our future plans to repaint the entire exterior of Clayton.
How can you become involved?
- Visit the Frick and experience for yourself all that we have to offer you—even while these projects are taking place.
What’s Next?
From 2023 through 2025, we will be turning our attention to Clayton’s magnificent exterior.
- In the first year of the project, we expect to remove existing paint and undertake preservation work that arises through that process.
- In the second year, we will repaint the 23-room, 4-storey mansion.
- In the third year, we will install International Dark-Sky Association-compliant exterior lighting.
- The results should showcase Clayton as the regional civic monument it has become!
- As part of these activities in the northwest corner of the Frick’s campus, we will enhance the lighting and accessibility, of the Penn Avenue pedestrian entrance.
What’s Complete?
Reynolds Street Parking Lot which now features:
- A safe and accessible pedestrian entrance, separating the sidewalk used by people from the busy driveway used by vehicles;
- Updated sidewalk curb cuts to create a straight, safe route for strollers, wheelchairs, and other wheeled devices;
- A more thoughtful configuration of the accessible parking spaces;
- Light fixtures refurbished for energy efficiency and to reduce light pollution;
- Underground electrical conduit that will provide the capacity to add Electric Vehicle charging stations in the future;
- A greener surface, with the addition of more plants and trees; and
- A repaved surface and improved substructure to slow future damage.
Did you know? As part of the parking lot refurbishment, the Frick has installed an emergency generator capable of powering all systems in the Frick Art Museum, Education Center, and Car and Carriage Museum.