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By Jonah Grinkewitz��

Leaders from ��㴫ý and the Barry Art Museum gathered with members of the campus and the broader community on Wednesday afternoon to break ground on an expansion project that will double the museum’s gallery space.��

More than 200 people gathered outside the museum on the corner of 43rd St. and Hampton Blvd. to celebrate the occasion, which was followed by an indoor reception.��

The $25 million project will add a 25,200 square foot, three-story wing that will include a multiuse event space, a community gallery, a media video gallery, an educational laboratory and expanded art storage. Funding for the project will also establish an endowment for operations.����

Reflecting on the museum’s opening in 2018, co-founder Carolyn Barry said, “Never could we have imagined then how our modest vision for an intimate campus art museum would grow into what is now a vibrant cultural and community hub. Today’s groundbreaking is an investment not only in the future growth of the University, but in the broader arts landscape of Hampton Roads. We are honored to be a part of it!”��

“The original building and this expansion project are a reflection of the personal passion of Dick and Carolyn Barry,” said ��㴫ý President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D. “The Barrys are true visionaries who brought this possibility to life.” ��

As with the existing facility, the new addition is designed by local firm, Saunders + Crouse Architects, and will be built by the ��㴫ý Real Estate Foundation. The museum will close on July 31, 2025, for construction and is expected to reopen in early 2027. ��

“This expansion will further the museum’s ability to serve as a space of connection and inspiration for all who walk through its doors — whether they are students encountering glass art for the first time, or lifelong learners engaging with new ideas,” said Lisa Chandler, ��㴫ý Real Estate Foundation Board of Trustees Chair. “It is a shining example of what’s possible when vision, philanthropy and partnership come together.”��

Lead gifts for the expansion come from museum co-founders Carolyn and Dick Barry, the family of Leah and Richard Waitzer, and Joan Brock.��

The impetus for the expansion was the Waitzer family’s gift of 165 works of 20th-century and contemporary glass sculptures in 2022.��

“This is an exciting day for our family, the Old Dominion community and Hampton Roads,” said Brad Waitzer, whose parents were art collecting mentors of the Barrys. “If our parents were here today, mom would be smiling ear to ear, talking with everybody and enjoying the ride. Dad would be very thankful that he could do something for the community that has been so good to the Waitzer family.”����

The added wing, to be known as the Waitzer Wing, will introduce a range of new amenities for museum visitors:��

• Expanded multiuse event space: Extending from the sculpture court, this space will accommodate a variety of events and gatherings and foster a deeper connection between the museum and the community.��

• New media video gallery: Featuring cutting-edge technology, this gallery will showcase multimedia artworks and bring a new dimension to the museum's exhibitions.��

• Community gallery: The gallery is a dedicated space for local artists and community exhibitions, designed to foster a sense of inclusivity and engagement.��

• Educational laboratory: The lab will be an art facility where visitors of all ages can engage in hands-on art education and exploration.��

• Expanded art storage: This space will safeguard the ever-growing collection and allow for more frequent rotations of artwork.��

“Nobody does an addition five years after opening,” said Lewis Webb, Barry Art Museum Foundation Board of Directors President. “It’s unbelievable, and this board has loved every minute of it.”��

“The expansion is a testament to the Barry Art Museum’s emergence as a regional cultural hub,” added Robert Wojtowicz, Ph.D, interim executive director for the museum. “It will allow us to showcase our growing permanent collection, while providing new galleries for changing and traveling exhibitions.”��

Founded in 2016 by art collectors Carolyn and Richard Barry, the Barry Art Museum houses a significant collection of contemporary glass, American and Marine paintings, historic dolls and automata. Guests can explore the history of fashion dolls through two new exhibitions currently on display through July 31: Carved Couture: 18th-Centruy British Wooden Fashion Dolls and Out of the Box: A Barbie Doll Retrospective.��