The Barnes Foundation – Philadelphia, PA

Overview

The Barnes Foundation is a premier art destination located in the heart of Philadelphia’s museum district. Founded by Dr. Albert C. Barnes, it was originally located in a small arboretum in Merion, PA. The museum eventually moved to Center City in 2012.

Dr. Barnes was known to have an eclectic taste for art, arranging his collection in bizarre but thematic ways. The new Barnes Foundation building, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners, aims to replicate Barnes’ original vision and presentation, but in a larger, more convenient, and modern space.

Project Scope

The museum was designed as an exposed concrete structure, and therefore required 7,500 cubic yards of concrete. The outside walls of the museum are made of Israeli limestone panels and feature a minimalistic design with open joints.

The Barnes Foundation’s unique design involves few windows. This reduces the chance of moisture entering the building, which could damage the valuable artwork inside. The tall, skinny windows, manufactured by Duratherm Window Corporation, are sandwiched between some of the exterior limestone panels. The window frames are made of white oak wood.

Pecora Northeast sales rep Michael Bear’s strong relationship with General Contractor LF Driscoll facilitated Pecora’s involvement on the project.     

Pecora 864NST silicone sealant was specifically chosen to seal the Barnes’ windows. The exceptional performance characteristics of 864NST, such as its tough adhesion to most substrates, made it the perfect match for the wood-limestone seals. The non-staining capabilities of 864NST will keep the exterior looking sharp due to the virtual elimination of residue rundown on natural stone.

Pecora 864NST is one-part, low-modulus, neutral-curing, high-performance silicone sealant that cures via atmospheric moisture to form a durable, flexible building seal. Because of its low-modulus, high extension/compression and recovery properties, Pecora 864NST performs exceptionally well under dynamic conditions accommodating long-term movement of ±50% in properly designed joints.

Pecora Protects the Barnes Foundation

Art museums shield the valuable works they contain from outside weather. When constructing museums, the windows must not be overlooked as they are a prime source for weather intrusion. Thanks to Pecora 864NST, the Barnes Foundation’s precious art will remain unharmed by the elements.