Grace Farms is an 80-acre public space in New Canaan, Connecticut that was established with the idea that space communicates and can inspire people to collaborate for the common good. Grace Farms is owned and operated by Grace Farms Foundation, which supports initiatives in the areas of nature, arts, justice, community, and faith, and encourages participation locally and globally. To realize its vision, Grace Farms Foundation set out to create a building nestled into the existing habitat that would enable visitors to experience nature, encounter the arts, pursue justice, foster community, and explore faith. The River building, designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning, Japanese architecture firm SANAA, is a part of the landscape without drawing attention to itself. Under the continuous roof are five transparent glass-enclosed volumes that can host a variety of activities and events, while maintaining a constant sense of the surrounding environment. The areas of the River building are: the Sanctuary, a 700-seat amphitheater; the library, a staffed library with resources related Grace Farms Foundation's initiatives; the Commons, a community gathering space with 18-foot-long tables; the Pavilion; a welcome reception and conversation space with tea service; and the Court, a partially below-grade recreational and performance space. Approximately 77 of Grace Farms' 80 acres are being preserved in perpetuity as open meadows, woods, wetlands, and ponds. Grace Farms is a place for meaningful interaction and a platform for creative minds, leaders, and organizations to collaborate. The site is open to the publicsix days a week, allowing people to enjoy a diverse range of structured and unstructured programming, including: special performances; lectures; community dinners; year-round recreational activities; and walking trails. Permanent contemporary art installations by Thomas Demand, Olafur Eliasson, Teresita Fernández, Beatriz Milhazes, and Susan Philipsz are located around Grace Farms.
Architecture
Opened in 2015, the River building was designed by the Japanese architectural firm SANAA, helmed by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa. The porous design of Grace Farms and the River building was meant to inspire and break down barriers between people. Natural light flows through more than 200 floor-to-ceiling glass panels in the River building, generating 360-degree views of the landscape in the changing seasons. The undulating pathways under a curvilinear roof follow the flow and elevation of the land. The River building has been honored nationally and internationally with numerous prestigious design awards. Grace Farms consists of the 48-acre former Windsome Farm, an equestrian facility, and an adjacent 27-acre parcel, which were bought between 2008 and 2009 by the Grace Farms Foundation. An additional five acres were later purchased. The property still features many of the equestrian farm's fences and buildings, including two long barns that have been turned into the welcome center and offices.
Awards
Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize 2014-2015, Grace Farms AIA National 2017 Architecture Honor Award, Grace Farms Fast Company, 2016 Innovation by Design Awards, Social Good Finalist, Grace Farms The Architect's Newspaper Best of Design Awards, 2016 Building of the Year, Grace Farms AIA Connecticut 2016 Design Honor Award, Grace Farms Illuminating Engineering Society, 2016 Lumen Awards, Award of Merit, BuroHappold for Grace Farms 2016 Architizer A+Awards, Architecture +Engineering, Grace Farms Greater New York Construction User Council, 2016 Chairman's Reception, Public Space, Grace Farms Engineering News-Record New England, Best Project Winner for Culture/Worship category, August 2016, Grace Farms The Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association, 2015 Construction Excellence Award in Acoustical Solutions East Region - Gold, Grace Farms TownVibe, 2016 Green Award, Grace Farms
Space Grants
Grace Farms Foundation supports not-for-profits, government agencies, and quasi-governmental agencies on the front lines of service by offering access to space at Grace Farms. The River building and West Barn are available to grantees for professional programs, strategic meetings, trainings, capacity-building programs, and workshops. Grantees become partners in the Foundation's endeavor to collaborate in new and fruitful ways, including access to Foundation staff, networking events, and convenings. Dozens of organizations utilize space grants annually. For example, Grace Community Church occupies space at Grace Farms, and hosts a coffee and bagels gathering, followed by a service, on Sunday mornings. Arts for Healing, an organization dedicated to providing music and art therapy for individuals with emotional, physical, developmental, and social needs, also hosts workshops in the barn.
