As part of our strategic plan, Hillwood has been working in close collaboration with our architecture firm to determine how we can best utilize our existing staff spaces to accommodate our expanding team and create additional display space for our collection. After careful consideration and planning, Hillwood is pleased to announce the following improvements:
Volunteer Lounge Moving to the Butler’s House
Timeline: Later this year (volunteer will be notified once a specific date is determined).
With the archives and special collections moved into the newly built Collections & Research Center, the visitor services team has moved from the Butler’s House to the Chauffer’s House (previously the library), which is situated next to the visitor center.
The volunteer lounge will relocate to the now vacant Butler’s House, located across from the cutting garden. This new space offers an increase in size (1,225 square feet) and amenities, such as an accessible restroom, kitchen, storage, and easy access to the new offices of Lisa Leyh, head of volunteer & employee engagement, and Sabrina Utz, Hillwood’s new volunteer programs coordinator, who starts on April 17. The Butler’s House is a central location for all volunteers to reconnect with one another, recharge during breaks, and access the volunteer library resources.
The staff offices in the Butler’s House will be completed by April 6, when Lisa Leyh will move in. Monica Tucker, head of payroll and benefits, will also be located in the Butler’s House. The section of the Butler’s House which will house the new volunteer lounge will undergo renovations, which includes new furniture, to meet the needs of the volunteer program. We anticipate the renovations to be completed later this year and will notify the volunteers when the new lounge is open. As we get closer, we will be collaborating across campus on additional logistics.
Share Your Feedback: As we start the process of designing a new volunteer lounge, we would love to get your feedback on your experiences in the current lounge and any potential suggestions you may have for the new one. We have created a brief survey that should take just a few minutes of your time.
Curatorial and Interpretation Departments Move
Timeline: This move will occur on April 6.
For better access to the collection, the curatorial team will move to the staff offices located on the second floor of the mansion, currently occupied by the interpretation team. In turn, the interpretation team will move to the Steward’s House (near the visitor entrance), currently occupied by the curatorial team.
Mansion Volunteer Lounge Transitions to New Collection Space
Timeline: The renovations will most likely start in 2024.
The space that is the current volunteer lounge in the mansion will be redesigned into a new collection space, which will be open to the public. This much needed space will provide Hillwood a new gallery-style room that will feature rotating displays highlighting different themes in the collection.
Please note: There will be no changes to the greenhouse breakroom and volunteers will continue to have access.
We appreciate your support and flexibility during these exciting changes across Hillwood’s campus. If you have any questions regarding these updates, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Lisa Leyh, Head of Volunteer and Employee Engagement