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RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Museum of Art was awarded two national and local awards for the 164-acre Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park and the work of Museum Park Director Dan Gottlieb, the museum’s director of planning and design.

Civitas, designer of the Museum Park’s expansion, received The American Architecture Award in the Parks and Gardens category, given by The Chicago Athenaeum. The prestigious annual award is given to an elite group of 100 buildings, commercial and institutional developments, landscape architecture, and urban planning projects from 43 nations.

The Museum Park expansion opened in November 2016 with Amanda Parer’s “Intrude,” a temporary exhibition of five illuminated bunnies, which was the best-attended event ever hosted at the museum. The Museum Park features permanent work by Mark di Suvero, Ursula von Rydingsvard, Roxy Paine, Henry Moore and Yinka Shonibare, among others.  

"This award is an unexpected honor from a highly respected institution of design with international reach,” said Mark Johnson, principal landscape architect at Civitas Inc. “It is rewarding to see this collaboration of art, design, and nature recognized as among the best anywhere."

Gottlieb was elected Honorary Member of the American Society of Landscape Architects in recognition of his work over the last 20 years in creating the Museum Park and campus. The honor is extended to leaders who, through engagement and activities, advance the goals and aspirations of the landscape architecture profession. It is also recognition of the NCMA campus design and influence on the region.

“Dan’s work has pushed the Museum Park into a nationally recognized space for visitors,” said Larry Wheeler, the NCMA’s director. “His vision has elevated the former site of a youth prison into an incredibly scenic and memorable spot for visitors of all ages to enjoy.”

The Museum Park was also recognized within the state. In June it received the Blue Green Innovator of the Year award from the North Carolina Green Industry Council, recognizing the sustainable design of the Museum campus. And in March the Park won the City of Raleigh’s Environmental Award for its transformation from a decayed, former prison site into the stunning art destination it is today.

Featuring miles of both paved and unpaved walking trails interspersed with 30 works of art from local and nationally renowned artists, the Museum Park serves hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. For more information on the Park, visit ncartmuseum.org/visit/the_park.

About the North Carolina Museum of Art:
The North Carolina Museum of Art’s permanent collection spans more than 5,000 years, from ancient Egypt to the present, making the institution one of the premier art museums in the South. The Museum’s collection provides educational, aesthetic, intellectual, and cultural experiences for the citizens of North Carolina and beyond. The 164-acre Museum Park showcases the connection between art and nature through site-specific works of environmental art. The Museum offers changing national touring exhibitions, classes, lectures, family activities, films, and concerts.

The Museum opened West Building, home to the permanent collection, in 2010. The North Carolina Museum of Art, Lawrence J. Wheeler, director, is located at 2110 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh. It is the art museum of the State of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, governor, and an agency of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Susi Hamilton, secretary.

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CONTACT:

Kat Harding
(919) 664-6795
kharding@ncartmuseum.org