George Eastman Museum Opens New Thomas Tischer Visitor Center
The new Visitor Center includes the ESL Federal Credit Union Pavilion, which will serve as the museum’s new main entrance
Rochester, NY — The George Eastman Museum officially cut the ribbon to open its new Thomas Tischer Visitor Center this morning at a 10 a.m. press conference. The Thomas Tischer Visitor Center includes the ESL Federal Credit Union Pavilion, which will serve as the museum’s new main entrance, located next to the Dryden Theatre. The transformative project, costing more than $5 million, was made possible by funding from a combination of philanthropy from individuals and private foundations, local corporate support, and a grant from the State of New York.
“I had the privilege to be a part of this project from its very beginning and am thrilled with the final results that we celebrate today,” said Thomas Tischer, the founding donor to the project. “It has always been my desire to support the museum’s continued evolution, and by doing so, I am proud to play a part in honoring the extraordinary legacy of George Eastman.”
The museum broke ground on the project in January of this year, and will open the doors to the Thomas Tischer Visitor Center to the general public on Saturday, October 10. The completed project has created a convenient, welcoming, and accessible new entrance for the Eastman Museum. The visitor center has improved guest amenities and created a single hub for museum entry, the Dryden Theatre, a fully renovated education and meeting hall, a new and expanded café, and a new shop.
“On behalf of Governor Cuomo, the New York State Legislature, and the New York State Council on the Arts, we congratulate the George Eastman Museum on the new Thomas Tischer Visitor Center, as it ushers in a new era of accessibility for Rochester,” said Mara Manus, Executive Director, New York State Council on the Arts. “The Eastman Museum’s world renowned collections hold up a mirror to our collective history as well as the profoundly historical times in which we currently find ourselves. NYSCA is committed to ensuring all New Yorkers have access to the vast scope of arts and culture across our state, and this expansion is an example of how a community thrives when venues are welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to all.”
Visitors will be welcomed to the museum through the ESL Federal Credit Union Pavilion, a new glass-and-steel structure that has preserved the historic façade of George Eastman’s garage on its interior. The Wolk Concourse connects the pavilion to the rest of the museum with educational and interpretive content, introducing visitors to the museum and George Eastman. This broad thoroughfare will lead visitors to the education and meeting hall, the café and shop, the exhibition galleries, and George Eastman’s historic mansion and Schuyler C. Townson Terrace Garden.
“We wish the sincerest of congratulations to the George Eastman Museum on this monumental occasion,” said Faheem Masood, President and CEO, ESL Federal Credit Union. “Today’s celebration took the work of individuals, nonprofit, public, and private organizations all coming together for the advancement of an iconic museum in our community. Arts and culture play a crucial role in the vitality of our community, as they breathe life into our neighborhoods and our lives. Because of this and what we are experiencing through the pandemic, the time has never been more urgent than now for the community to support the arts, support culture, and support our museums. This Visitor Center Project is a testament to the positive, productive and resilient work that can be done when collaboration is made possible and a community values its arts and culture institutions.”
Thomas Tischer, a retired research chemist at Eastman Kodak Company and longtime museum patron, initiated the project and has advanced it by donating more than $1.5 million. The museum received a $1 million grant award from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), under Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. Last summer, ESL Federal Credit Union acquired the naming rights to the entrance pavilion for $1 million, which enabled the overall project to proceed.
Other major donors to the Visitor Center Project include the Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation; Elaine P. and Richard U. Wilson Foundation; William and Sheila Konar Foundation; Nocon & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services Inc.; Kevin and Rachel Glazer; Dawn F. and Jacques M. Lipson; Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation; Norma Andzer in memory of Arnold L. Andzer; Monroe County Industrial Development Corporation; and Eastman Museum Council. A donation was made anonymously in honor of Paolo Cherchi Usai, Jack Garner, and Daniel M. Meyers in recognition of their contributions to the Eastman Museum.
Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, “This new visitor center extends a beautiful welcome to the George Eastman Museum, a touchstone of both Rochester’s storied past and its exciting future. The project also demonstrates once again that the Governor’s focused commitment is having a very real impact on communities throughout New York State.”
“Creating a conveniently located main entrance and a welcoming new visitor center has long been one of our top priorities,” said Bruce Barnes, PhD, Ron and Donna Fielding Director, George Eastman Museum. “Our Thomas Tischer Visitor Center marks a new era for the Eastman Museum. We are deeply grateful to Tom, ESL Federal Credit Union, the New York State Council on the Arts, and all of the generous donors who have helped us to realize this vision and ensure that our visitors’ experience is commensurate with the standing of our museum and its collections.”
The visitor center was designed by Flynn Battaglia Architects of Buffalo, and the general contractor was The Pike Company.
The museum will be open for members only on Friday, October 9 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will reopen to the general public on Saturday, October 10 at 10 a.m. The museum’s café will be serving a limited menu and the museum shop will be open.
