Corning, NY, June 10, 2026 – LeChase Construction Services has been nationally recognized for its recent work with the Corning Museum of Glass B Building Studio Expansion. The project received a Build America Award from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).
One of the construction industry’s highest honors, the award honors the nation’s most significant construction projects, recognizing excellence in project management, innovation, safety, quality and community impact.
“The Corning Museum of Glass project was unique – requiring us to balance historic preservation with highly specialized construction,” said LeChase Vice President Fred Thompson. “In addition to carefully restoring the building’s exterior look, the scope involved completely transforming the interior into a modern space designed and equipped for advanced glassmaking.”
The long-standing partnership between LeChase, The Corning Museum of Glass and CJS Architects brought the vision for the expanded Studio to life.
Originally constructed in the 1950s, the historic B Building once served as a testing facility for iconic consumer products like Pyrex. As part of the expansion, the project team:
- carefully restored the building’s original glass block façade, a defining architectural feature made more complex by the fact that the original materials are no longer manufactured.
- built and equipped programming spaces to expand the Make Your Own Glass visitor experience.
- added areas that provide next-level resources for artists and glassworking students – including shops for wood, metal and molding; areas with 3-D printers; neon-making facilities; and North America’s first casting facility for large-scale glass works.
- Added a new mechanical penthouse to meet the demanding HVAC needs of the expanded facility.
The renovation and expansion of The Studio more than doubled the facility’s size, significantly enhancing CMoG’s ability to offer glassmaking programs, educational experiences, and dynamic, interactive opportunities for visitors from across the region and around the world.
“I am grateful to LeChase for working to make our vision a reality,” said Amy Schwartz, director of The Studio. “We created a major space for glassworking that is equally as beautiful as it is functional.”
“Our collaboration with LeChase Construction during The Studio project at Corning Museum of Glass was driven by early, consistent communication and a shared commitment to the client’s vision, resulting in a seamless partnership and a beautifully executed space,” said CJS Architects Partner Dirk Schneider.
“LeChase is always proud to be involved in projects that enhance communities where our people live and work,” said Thompson. “This project reflects our continued support for projects that strengthen Corning’s cultural identity, promote tourism and create lasting value for the local region.”
