Ribbon Cutting: Weeksville Heritage Center

December 11, 2013

On December 11th, Deputy Commissioner Resnick joined members of DDC’s Public Buildings team along with other government and elected officials, leading figures in the arts, and local school children to cut the ribbon marking the completion of the new 23,000 square-foot Education and Arts Building for the Weeksville Heritage Center. This award-winning gateway to the grounds of the original 19th century community of free African Americans will enable Weeksville to expand its education, programming and research and enable it to grow as one of the nation’s leading centers for African American history and culture.

"The new Weeksville Heritage Center is the best of both worlds: it’s a 21st century museum and educational facility that also pay homage to the historic, 19th century homes located on the site. The new center includes a host of environmentally-sustainable features, including geothermal heating and cooling systems, as well as one-and-a-half acres of beautifully landscaped grounds,” said Commissioner David Burney. “We’re proud to have worked closely with the architects and our partners at the Weeksville Heritage Center and the Department of Cultural Affairs to deliver this high-quality, multi-purpose facility that will serve our city well for generations to come.”

Designed by Caples Jefferson Architects, the building features art exhibition and performance space, as well as educational programming for visitors and the local community. The Center has earned LEED Gold certification, making it the only LEED-certified building in Central Brooklyn. Surrounding the Center is an interpretive landscape designed by Elizabeth Kennedy Landscape Architects and highlighted by “Sugar in My Bowl II,” a new sculpture by artist Chakaia Booker commissioned through the Percent for Art Program.