Westerly Museum of American Impressionism Receives 2026 AIA Connecticut Design Award

Commissioned by private collectors, the project transformed a former rehabilitation facility into a 20,000-square-foot cultural destination for American Impressionist art on the Pawcatuck River. Thirteen galleries accommodate permanent and temporary exhibitions, with skylights, framed river views, and native meadow plantings connecting the museum’s interiors and grounds with the landscapes that inspired the collection.

AIA Connecticut commented: “The jury praised the thoughtful adaptive reuse that connects art, architecture, and landscape. Restrained interventions, natural light, native planting, and framed river views create contemplative galleries, transforming an ordinary building into a distinctive community asset.”

The AIA Connecticut Design Awards is an annual program celebrating outstanding design by Connecticut-based firms.