Grace Farms facts for kids
Grace Farms is a large, beautiful public space in New Canaan, Connecticut. It covers 80 acres and was created to help people connect with nature, enjoy art, and work together for a better world. The Grace Farms Foundation owns and runs this special place. They support projects related to nature, arts, justice, community, and faith. People from all over the world can join in!
To make this vision real, the Foundation built a unique structure called the River building. It blends right into the natural surroundings. This building lets visitors experience nature, see art, help others, build friendships, and explore their beliefs. The River building was designed by a famous Japanese architecture firm called SANAA.
The building has a long, wavy roof that covers five glass-enclosed areas. These areas can host many different activities and events. You always feel connected to the outdoors because of the glass walls. The River building includes:
- The Sanctuary: A large space with 700 seats, perfect for performances.
- The Library: A quiet place with books and resources about Grace Farms' goals.
- The Commons: A gathering spot with long tables for community meals.
- The Pavilion: A welcoming area where you can relax and have tea.
- The Court: A space for sports and performances, partly underground.
About 77 of Grace Farms' 80 acres are kept as open meadows, woods, wetlands, and ponds. This means lots of nature to explore! Grace Farms is open to everyone six days a week. You can enjoy many activities, like special shows, talks, community dinners, sports, and walking trails. You can also see cool modern art pieces by artists like Thomas Demand and Olafur Eliasson around the property.
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The River Building: A Special Design
The River building opened in 2015. It was designed by the Japanese firm SANAA, led by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa. The design helps people feel more connected to each other and to nature. Over 200 floor-to-ceiling glass panels let natural light flood into the building. This gives you amazing 360-degree views of the changing seasons outside. The wavy paths under the roof follow the natural shape of the land. The River building has won many important design awards from around the world.
Grace Farms was created from two pieces of land bought between 2008 and 2009. One part was a 48-acre horse farm called Windsome Farm. The other was a 27-acre plot next to it. Later, five more acres were added. You can still see some of the old farm's fences and buildings. Two long barns from the horse farm are now used as the welcome center and offices.
Awards for Grace Farms
Grace Farms has won many awards for its amazing design and positive impact. Some of these awards include:
- Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize (MCHAP) in 2014-2015.
- AIA National Architecture Honor Award in 2017.
- Fast Company's Innovation by Design Awards in 2016 for Social Good.
- The Architect's Newspaper Best of Design Awards for Building of the Year (East) in 2016.
- LEED Silver Certification for Operations and Maintenance in 2019. This means the building is very environmentally friendly!
How Other Groups Use Grace Farms
The Grace Farms Foundation helps other non-profit groups and government agencies by letting them use spaces at Grace Farms. This is called a "space grant." Groups can use the River building and the West Barn for meetings, training, and workshops. These groups become partners with the Foundation, working together to make a difference. They can also connect with Foundation staff and attend networking events.
Many organizations use these space grants every year. For example, Grace Community Church holds Sunday morning services and coffee gatherings at Grace Farms. Arts for Healing, a group that uses music and art to help people with special needs, also hosts workshops in the barn.
See also
In Spanish: Grace Farms para niños
