The Frederic Church Center will be a welcoming gateway for all visitors to Olana State Historic Site, making all 250 acres of the historic landscape an integral part of the visitor experience. This sustainably designed, all-electric building is the first structure built at Olana since Church’s lifetime. “Olana State Historic Site is one of the Hudson Valley’s most striking destinations, drawing visitors from around the world,” Hochul said.
“With the opening of the Frederic Church Center, even more residents and visitors can fully experience the work of one of our nation’s most visionary artists right here in New York state.” Olana is the 19th century home, studio and designed landscape of Hudson River School artist, Frederic Edwin Church. The Frederic Church Center is the keystone of the award-winning Strategic Landscape Design Plan completed in 2015 by New York State Parks, The Olana Partnership (TOP), the LA Group and Nelson, Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW).
The plan received the 2017 National Honor Award for Analysis and Planning from the American Society of Landscape Architects. Designed by Architecture Research Office (ARO) and Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW), the Frederic Church Center includes a spacious entry lobby for ticketing and orientation, a café, gender neutral restrooms and a multipurpose room adjoining outdoor terraces and paths that connect to Olana’s historic carriage road network. “This is a landmark day for Olana and.
