WASHINGTON, DC.- The Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design in downtown D.C. announces it will begin restoration of the roof of its historic 1897 Beaux-Arts building in late January 2009.

The roof of the original building will be retrofitted with state-of-the-art glass—nearly 50,000 square feet of glass will be replaced during the restoration—with the intent to better protect, preserve and present its permanent collection and traveling exhibitions.

Due to the extensive work on the roof, the Gallery will temporarily close from January 26, 2008 to March 13, 2009, between traveling exhibitions Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power (closing January 25) and Maya Lin: Systematic Landscapes (opening March 14). During this interval, other activities within the College, as well as public programs and special events will continue as scheduled. “While this project will return our historic building to its original
beauty, it will more importantly better protect and preserve the art treasures inside,” said Paul Greenhalgh, Director and President of the Corcoran. “The roof renovation has been carefully planned over the past 18 months in order to minimize the inconvenience to our visitors.” In 2008, the Corcoran completed a façade restoration of the Seventeenth Street and New York Avenue building exterior. During this project, the façade was cleaned, eroded marble ornament was conserved and masonry joints and cracks were sealed to prevent moisture penetration into the building.

The goal of the building restoration is to seal off the building from moisture, control the light and heat transmitted into the interior, and update the climate control equipment that is located in the attic. Historically significant architectural elements will be conserved. No comprehensive repair program has been undertaken to address the roof and skylights since the early 1980’s. Underneath the skylights, ventilation in the expansive attic will be upgraded to allow for better and more cost-effective control of the interior environment. Air handlers on the roof will be replaced and duct work will be rerouted. The aged copper paneling on the roof will be replaced with new copper, which will initially have a reddish brown appearance but within five years, the panels will begin to take on the greenish appearance that is a recognizable aspect of the Corcoran’s historic building. “Over the years, pollution and the elements have taken a toll on the building materials and thanks to generous support, we are in a position to restore one of Washington’s prized gems for future generations to enjoy,” said Chris Leahy, Chief Financial Officer at the Corcoran.

The Corcoran’s exterior restoration will be completed in early 2010.