20/20 Vision

The vision of expanding The Heckscher Museum of Art facility has been around for some time. In 1975, a schematic design for a major addition was developed by renowned architect Marcel Breuer (1902-1981). Unfortunately, a variety of circumstances have prevented the completion of this project. The current expansion concept, designed by nationally acclaimed Centerbrook Architects, pays homage to The Heckscher Museum’s distinctive 1920 beaux-arts style building, built for founder August Heckscher by Julius Franke of the New York City architectural firm Maynicke and Franke. The historically registered original building remains at the heart of the Centerbrook plan, flanked by symmetrical additions connected by glazed corridors.

As now conceived, the two wings will include program-specific spaces that the current structure does not provide. The top floor of the North pavilion will house special exhibition galleries totaling 4,000 square feet. An educational learning center, with classrooms, technology hub, and an exhibition gallery for the display of children’s art will occupy the lower level. To facilitate the arrival and orientation of school and other groups, an education entrance on the lower level will face the Heckscher Park pond allowing groups to enter directly from buses on Prime Avenue.

A South wing offers 1,600 square feet of flexible auditorium space for a wide variety of educational and civic programs. Non-public areas in the South wing include a loading dock, shipping and receiving areas, and a secure, short-term storage area for the handling of art loans entering and leaving the Museum. Most importantly, it will provide a sizeable collection storage area, making possible the return of the Museum’s Permanent Collection after many years at an off-site location.

It is The Heckscher Museum Board’s plan to have the new wings in place by the 100th anniversary of the Museum in the year 2020.  I invite those of you who want to learn more about the plan for capital growth to call me at 631.351.3250 or e-mail schantz@heckscher.org.  A three-dimensional model is on view in The Heckscher Museum’s Central Gallery.



Executive Director & CEO

Mission Statement

The Heckscher Museum of Art serves the people of the Town of Huntington and surrounding communities.  Through exhibitions of its permanent and loan collections of art and related museum programs, it seeks to provide inspiring and transformative educational experiences to encourage a broader understanding of our past and present and enrich the quality of life of the individuals it serves.



Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) since 1972.