In a press release from October 16, 2008 trustees of the foundation announced that "the new Barnes Foundation building on the Parkway will house the Foundation's world-renowned art collection in galleries that replicate the scale, proportion and configuration of the original Merion galleries. In addition, the new Barnes campus will provide a substantial increase in dedicated space for teaching the Foundation's art education programs. The state-of-the-art facility will also include space for a special exhibitions gallery, art conservation, classrooms, an auditorium, as well as a retail gift shop and cafe.
Landscaped grounds on the four-and-a-half acre site will reference horticultural aspects of the Merion Arboretum. When completed, this beautiful, functional, and accessible complex will substantially reinforce Dr. Barnes's ideals and goals and the Foundation's educational mission. In addition, the Barnes Foundation will greatly contribute to the Parkway experience placing the extraordinary collection within reach of more citizens and visitors from around the world on Philadelphia's principal corridor of outstanding visual arts institutions. "
The project timeline is as follows:
Ongoing: Remediation and site preparation
Winter 2008-2009: Demolition of existing building
Spring/Summer 2009: Architects design refinement
Autumn 2009: New building construction
Winter 2011: New building construction complete/Interior work and installation
“The current building in Merion was designed specifically for the Barnes collection by Paul Cret with Dr. Barnes as owner/curator,” Venturi wrote. “The building and site design are an integral part of the collection and vice versa … In our current economic and financial climate, particularly here in Pennsylvania, the expenditure of $200-300 million for a new site and a new building seems an indiscrete and ridiculous waste of money…” ---California Literary Review
