THE NEW MUSEUM PROJECT
ABOUT
The Haverstraw Brick Museum is embarking on a transformative journey to create a state-of-the-art, multi-level facility that celebrates our community’s past while inspiring tomorrow’s generations. Spanning 3.5 levels dedicated to Innovation and technology, research and education, Exhibits and community, and Archives and collections, this new museum design by Op.al Architects will blend sustainable design principles with innovative brickwork—honoring our industrial heritage while serving as a beacon of the future in our tight-knit community.
In 2023, the Haverstraw Brick Museum secured $1.5 million in seed capital through New York State's downtown revitalization initiative. To fully realize our innovative design for the new museum, we are seeking an additional $4 million. This investment will enable us to safeguard our cultural legacy, promote creativity and education, and invigorate the spirit of discovery in Haverstraw for generations to come. We invite you to join us in laying the groundwork for a shared future that honors our past while inspiring innovation and learning. Together, we can create a vibrant hub that enriches our community, preserves our unique heritage, and provides an economic engine to Main Street, Haverstraw.
LEARN THE PAST, DISCOVER THE FUTURE
ABOUT NEW DESIGN
USING THE COLLABORATION OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT MARY MOWBRAY-CLARKE AND BRICK MASON BIAGIO GUGLIO AS INSPIRATION, JONATHAN A. SCELSA AND JENNIFER BIRKELAND OF OP.AL ARCHITECTS, HUSBAND AND WIFE AS WELL AS ARCHITECTURAL PARTNERS, ARE COLLABORATING ON THE BUILDING PLANS OF THE BRICK MUSEUM’S NEW 3 ½ STORY DESIGN.
Photo of wall design by Brick Mason Biagio Gugliuzzo for the Dutch Garden in New City, Rockland County. Photograph by Rachel Whitlow
Photo of harvesting clay Excelsior Brickyard, C 1905, Danielle de Noyelles Collection, Haverstraw Brick Museum Archives
The Pocket Garden Terrace design takes inspiration from the everyday life of the brickyards. Hundreds of millions of bricks were produced yearly by the Hudson River brickyards, resulting in an extraordinary amount of raw materials being excavated from the deposits of sedimental layers of clay and sand. The process for excavating the land was to cut the clay into cut terraces, exposing the intricate layers to the elements. This phenomenon forms the basis of inspiration for Architect Jonathan A. Scelsa and Landscape Architect Jennifer Birkeland.
Rendering of the proposed pocket garden terrace for the Haverstraw Brick Museum by Op.al Architects
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: RESTORE AND EXPAND THE HAVERSTRAW BRICK MUSEUM
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
RFP 1- PUBLISHED 2.20.25
The Haverstraw Brick Museum is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to provide engineering design schematics, including complete construction site plan documents, in collaboration with our current architect.
Rendering by OP.AL Architects
The building's construction combines traditional brick architecture and masonry with innovative techniques such as parametric architecture. Parametric architecture involves using algorithms that drive robotic 3D printing. These two approaches come together to create hanging garden terraces on the facade of the pocket garden.
Photo of 3D printed sculpture by Architect Jonathan Scelsa, commissioned by the Haverstraw Brick Museum through the support of Arts Westchester, 2023
Rendering of proposed new library for the Haverstraw Brick Museum by Op.al Architects