May 20, 2026
The Rockwell Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is pleased to announce a series of transformational capital projects that will reshape key public-facing spaces at the Museum throughout 2026 and 2027. Timed to coincide with the institution’s 50th anniversary, these initiatives represent a major investment in visitor experience, community engagement, and long-term sustainability.
Referred to collectively as “Rockwell on the Move,” the projects are a central component of the Museum’s new strategic plan, Framing the Future: The Rockwell at 50 and Beyond, 2026–2030. The initiatives advance several institutional priorities outlined in the plan, including strengthening the Museum’s identity, deepening connections with the community, modernizing infrastructure, and expanding earned and contributed revenue streams.
At the heart of the initiative is the relocation and expansion of the beloved KIDS ROCKWELL Art Lab into the Museum’s main building. Since opening at 36 E. Market Street in 2018, the Art Lab has become one of the Museum’s strongest drivers of visitation and community engagement, serving thousands of children, caregivers, educators, and families annually through hands-on artmaking, early childhood programming, school partnerships, and intergenerational learning experiences connected directly to the Museum’s collection and exhibitions.
“Bringing the Art Lab into the Museum marks a significant evolution in how we serve our community,” said Erin M. Coe, Executive Director of The Rockwell Museum. “By integrating creative, family-centered learning into the heart of the visitor experience, we are creating a more welcoming and accessible Museum for audiences of all ages. This next chapter reflects our core belief that creative expression, learning, and curiosity are essential parts of civic and cultural life.”
The renovation of the Art Lab, admissions area, and lobby represents the first significant capital investment in the Museum’s first floor since the early 2000s and signals a deliberate shift toward aligning the institution’s most visible and heavily used spaces with its mission, values, and future direction. Significant support for the new Art Lab has been generously provided by the family of Nelson Benjamin Quanbeck.
The Museum engaged the nationally recognized architecture firm GBBN to design the reimagining and renovation of approximately 2,500 square feet of first-floor space, including infrastructure upgrades, improved accessibility, and the integration of the Art Lab into the Museum’s admissions and lobby experience. Planned features include a performance and presentation stage, a sensory-friendly room, a family restroom, and flexible mobile furnishings that will allow the area to support public programs, receptions, and community events.
Planned features include a performance and presentation stage, a sensory-friendly room, a family restroom, and flexible mobile furnishings that will allow the area to support public programs, receptions, and community events.
The new Art Lab is scheduled to open in spring 2027. The current Art Lab location on Market Street will remain open throughout 2026.
To accommodate the expanded Art Lab footprint, the Museum Store will relocate to a renovated storefront in the nearby Baron Steuben Building on Market Street’s Centerway Square. Designed by AJH Design, the new street-level location will significantly increase visibility and accessibility while positioning the Store more directly within the flow of downtown Corning’s tourism and pedestrian activity.
The relocation reflects a broader strategic effort to strengthen earned revenue and expand the Museum’s public presence beyond its historic building. By moving the Store to a prominent storefront along Market Street and Centerway Square, the Museum aims to create a more vibrant and accessible retail experience that better serves both visitors and the broader community. The new location is expected to increase foot traffic, improve sales potential, and create stronger year-round engagement with visitors exploring downtown Corning.
The move also allows the Museum to more effectively utilize its existing footprint by dedicating valuable first-floor space within the main building to mission-centered educational programming and visitor engagement through the expanded Art Lab, admissions area, and lobby. The reimagined Museum Store will continue to feature a curated selection of artful gifts, books, jewelry, and merchandise inspired by the Museum’s collection and exhibitions, while serving as an additional gateway to the Museum experience in the heart of downtown Corning.
The new Museum Store is expected to open in conjunction with the Museum’s 50th Anniversary Block Party, planned in partnership with Corning’s Gaffer District during Harvest Fest on September 19, 2026.
“Taken together, these projects represent a coordinated and mission-driven investment in visitor experience, institutional visibility, and long-term financial sustainability,” Coe added. “As The Rockwell approaches its 50th anniversary, this is a pivotal moment not only to reflect on the Museum’s history, but to position the institution for the future.”
“These projects represent a thoughtful and forward-looking investment in the Museum’s future,” said Joy Macafee, President of The Rockwell Museum Board of Trustees. “By creating a more unified and visitor-centered footprint, we are strengthening both the public experience and the Museum’s long-term sustainability. The Board is proud to support initiatives that advance the Museum’s mission while ensuring responsible stewardship of its resources for generations to come.”
Project updates and frequently asked questions will be shared throughout the project at RockwellMuseum.org/On-The-Move.
About GBBN
GBBN is a nationally recognized architecture and design firm founded in Cincinnati in 1958, with offices in Cincinnati, Louisville, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, and Beijing. With a dedicated studio focused solely on arts facilities, GBBN believes that thriving arts organizations are catalysts for positive change — strengthening the neighborhoods, communities, and cities they call home. The firm brings decades of specialized experience across all facets of forming, financing, fundraising, designing, delivering, and opening arts facilities, with a portfolio spanning performing arts centers, black box theaters, proscenium houses, concert halls, museums, and cultural institutions.