At a Glance
Ecology is part of an integrated planning process that will help establish and protect meaningful connections between art and the landscape of the Brandywine region of Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Project Description
Located along the banks of Brandywine River, the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art (BCMA) preserves and presents elements of art and nature that highlight the extraordinary beauty of the region and a renowned collection of American Art. The main campus is home to the Brandywine River Museum of Art, known for its holding of the Wyeth family and other local artists, and the Brandywine Conservancy, a nationally-known land trust and conservancy dedicated to protecting and conserving the land, water, natural, and cultural resources of the Brandywine-Christina watershed. The campus also includes several historic properties and over 300 acres of protected forests, floodplain, wetlands, and farmland.
Seeking a master plan to guide future expansion and growth while protecting the unique resources of the site and enhancing connectivity and sustainability of its properties, the BCMA turned to a team led by Cooper Robertson architects, with landscape architecture led by OLIN. As the team’s ecological consultant, Biohabitats’ role was to ensure that the Master Plan was informed by site ecology and by the properties’ context within the Brandywine River watershed.
As part of the initial assessment, the Biohabitats team evaluated the landscape ecology of the site, identifying and examining ecological features such as wetlands, floodplains, vegetation communities, and unique features like their wildflower meadow – the preservation of which spawned the conservancy 50 years ago. After participating in sessions with the staff of the BCMA, Biohabitats then developed an ecological framework to guide the development of a more connected, coherent experience for all visitors.