Turner Construction’s Century-Long Pennsylvania Legacy

Turner’s ties to Pennsylvania run deep, with roots in the west of the US state tracing back to 1912.

This includes delivering many of Pittsburgh’s signature buildings, from USX Tower and ALCOA’s headquarters to the David L Lawrence Convention Center and Phipps Center for Sustainable Landscapes. 

More recently, Turner has continued to shape healthcare and civic infrastructure across the state, including major hospital expansions and research facilities that serve communities from Philadelphia to Wilkes‑Barre. 

The Brandywine project extends that legacy into the cultural sector, pairing Turner’s scale and systems discipline with local expertise through its joint venture with Wohlsen Construction.

“We are honoured to partner with the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art on this extraordinary project,” says Matt Curry, Senior Project Manager at Turner. 

“This transformation will create a wonderful experience where visitors can engage with art, history and the natural environment in new and meaningful ways. 

“It’s exciting to be part of a project that will have such a lasting cultural impact.”

Delivering the Brandywine transformation

The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art’s approximately US$100m campus transformation includes a new 40,000‑square‑foot museum building designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates with Schwartz/Silver Architects.

The historic Mill building will also undergo significant renovations, as the project reimagines a 15‑acre site into a dynamic destination that connects art, nature and community. 

It will also expand the surrounding landscape into a 325‑acre public preserve and garden.

“With more than 40 years of experience in the region and a long-standing relationship with the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art, it is especially meaningful to be part of a project that will enhance such an iconic cultural and natural resource,” adds Michael Berardi, Senior Vice President of Wohlsen Construction.

Construction is planned to begin in spring 2027, with the new building scheduled to open in fall 2029.

Tying together art and landscape

The new museum will consist of four wood‑clad pavilions with low, asymmetric roofs that appear to emerge from the landscape rather than dominate it, in line with Kengo Kuma’s design philosophy. 

Inside will include 14,000 square feet of new gallery space, while the renovated Mill building will retain three galleries, the Millstone Café and key research centres. 

The Mill will also be flood-hardened using submarine‑grade technology after the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021.

It will add an interactive exhibit on the conservancy’s land and water protection work, along with enhanced education and event spaces.

Outside, ten miles of trails will link both museum buildings and the original studios of artists NC Wyeth and Andrew Wyeth.

Delivering a lasting regional impact

Delivering a lasting regional impact

Beyond the buildings, the expansion creates a learning landscape that deepens public understanding of stewardship and conservation, with native plantings, interpretive trails, an outdoor classroom and a nature play area. 

“Since our founding in 1967, our vision has been to ‘preserve the land that inspired so many artists’. As we approach our 60th anniversary, this campaign fulfils that founding vision at a transformative scale,” says Virginia Logan, CEO of Brandywine.