Buffalo AKG announces enhancements to auditorium, fountain, east steps

The new Jeffrey Gundlach Building nearing completion at Buffalo AKG Art Museum is getting a lion's share of the attention as excitement builds toward the June 12 opening.

The reopening of the refurbished 1905 and 1962 buildings – the latter with the new Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Town Square and "Common Sky" canopy overhead – are also highly anticipated.

Director Janne Siren and Board President Alice Jacobs on Friday drew attention to less-talked about projects occurring, or soon to begin, that will add additional sparkle to the campus when completed.

"We have fully refurbished the glass-box auditorium, a masterpiece of modernist architecture and one of the jewels of our campus," Siren said. "We are also conducting repairs to the iconic grand staircase and the fountain as we continue to improve the landscape around us."

The projects are possible through a $5 million state grant obtained last year by State Sen. Sean Ryan, who Siren praised for his "steadfast advocacy" in providing "substantial improvements and updates to our historical facility."

Click here to read the full story.