Press Release

Reynolda Announces Temporary House Closure and Spring 2026 Exhibition 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (December 2, 2025) — To ensure its collection remains vibrant for generations, Reynolda House Museum of American Art will begin a seven-month, $8 million replacement of its HVAC system in the historic house on January 5, 2026. The start of the work will initiate a temporary closure of the Historic House from January 5 to August 4, 2026. While the house remains closed, the Museum’s Babcock Wing will open to visitors on March 10, 2026 for the debut of the spring exhibition, Layered Looking: Making Sense of Art. The entire museum will reopen on August 5, 2026 ahead of its fall exhibition season.

The HVAC rehabilitation marks the third major infrastructure project across the historic estate in a five-year span, following the replacement of the Ludowci tile roof on Reynolda House Ludowci in 2021 and the complete restoration of the Brown Family Conservatory in 2024. 

The new HVAC system reflects Reynolda’s commitment to preservation through innovation, with improved energy efficiency informed by the international Bizot Green Protocol which provides science-based guidelines for sustainable practices, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in cultural heritage conservation. 

“When Katharine Reynolds designed her country estate, she intentionally equipped the family’s 1917 bungalow home with advanced systems for fresh air and comfort,” said Allison Perkins, executive director for Reynolda House and Wake Forest University associate provost for Reynolda House and Reynolda Gardens. “As a museum stewarding American art within a historic property, we are continuing Katharine’s legacy of innovation.”

The demands on Reynolda’s aging HVAC system now far exceed its original capabilities. Three of the 11 units being replaced have been in operation since 1937. Over the years, some systems have failed, forcing others to work harder to maintain temperature and relative humidity in key areas. 

“This upgrade strengthens our ability to protect Reynolda’s historic furnishings along with more than 200 works of American art, reinforcing the trust other museums place in us when they lend important works,” said Phil Archer, Betsy Main Babcock Deputy Director and project director. 

“In turn, we place a great deal of trust in our project partners. We’re incredibly fortunate to work with local entities Blum Construction and  Joseph K. Oppermann – Architect, P.A., in addition to AC Corporation and Landmark Facilities Group–all of which bring decades of historic preservation experience.” 

Reynolda is grateful to HVAC project sponsors Wake Forest University, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Frankenthaler Climate Initiative, Mariam & Robert Hayes Charitable Trust.

Spring 2026 Exhibition: Layered Looking

Opening March 10, 2026, Layered Looking: Making Sense of Art invites visitors of all ages to rediscover Reynolda’s permanent collection through a new and playful lens. Curated by Julia Tanner, director of teaching and learning, Layered Looking encourages visitors to move beyond traditional viewing into an active, sensory experience—through touch, sound, and movement—exploring art as a dynamic landscape.

With works by Louise Nevelson, Red Grooms, Kwame Brathwaite, and a newly restored piece by Nam June Paik, this exhibition underscores Reynolda’s core mission: to safeguard works of art while also finding new ways for audiences to connect with them.

“I’m forever intrigued by the way art – regardless of when it was made – communicates something about what it is to be human,” Tanner reflects. “There is no one right way in. We hope visitors leave not with conclusions, but with tools for seeing—experiential, reflective and playful—that travel with them beyond the museum walls.” 

On view through July 19, 2026, the exhibition will be accompanied by public programs including Open Studio Saturdays and a series of adult classes.

Reynolda is grateful to Layered Looking presenting sponsor, Wells Fargo. 

Key Dates: 2026 Closures and Exhibitions

What Remains Open During the Closure

  • Reynolda Gardens: Open daily, dawn to dusk
  • Reynolda Welcome Center: Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Sundays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.; closed on Mondays
  • Reynolda Village: All shops and restaurants maintain regular hours
  • Reynolda House Museum Store: Open during Layered Looking exhibition dates (March 10 – July 19, 2026) 

More details about the closure can be found at reynolda.org/hvac.

About Reynolda

Reynolda is set on 170 acres in Winston-Salem, N.C. and comprises Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Reynolda Gardens and Reynolda Village Shops and Restaurants. The Museum presents a renowned art collection in a historic and incomparable setting: the original 1917 interiors of Katharine and R.J. Reynolds’s 34,000-square-foot home. Its collection is a chronology of American art and featured exhibitions are offered in the Museum’s Babcock Wing Gallery and historic house bedrooms. The Gardens serve as a 134-acre outdoor horticultural oasis open to the public year-round, complete with colorful formal gardens, nature trails and a conservatory. In the Village, the estate’s historic buildings are now home to a vibrant mix of boutiques, restaurants, shops and services. Plan your visit at reynolda.org.

Hours and Admission

Reynolda House Museum of American Art, located at 2250 Reynolda Rd., and the Reynolda Welcome Center and the Brown Family Conservatory, located at 100 Reynolda Village Way, are open to visitors Tuesday–Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is charged for the Museum, though several free admission categories apply. Reynolda Gardens is open from dawn to dusk daily, free of charge. Reynolda Village merchants’ hours vary. No ticket is needed to shop at the Reynolda House Museum Store.

MEDIA CONTACT

Brittany Norton
Director of Marketing and Communications, Reynolda House and Reynolda Gardens
brittany@reynolda.org
336-926-6080 (mobile)
336-758-5524 (office)

Images: 

Left: Nam June Paik (1932-2006), Leonardo da Vinci, 1991, Mixed-media sculpture, 93″ x 64″ x 21″. Museum Purchase with additional funds provided by Barbara B. Millhouse, 1993.2.1
Middle: Reception Hall circa 2018
Right: Stuart Davis (1894-1964), For Internal Use Only, 1945, Oil on canvas, 45″ x 28″. Gift of Barbara B. Millhouse, 1998.2.1