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As it celebrates its 10-year anniversary, Bell Works continues to innovate. For its latest addition, the Holmdel metroburb is welcoming a photo exhibition honoring Dan Kiley that aims to support the arts as well as spark larger conversation.

Bell Works is partnering with The Cultural Landscape Foundation to host “The Landscape Architecture Legacy of Dan Kiley.” Located on the 2 million-square-foot hub’s ground floor, the collection of 45 newly commissioned pieces is open to the public at no charge. After debuting earlier this summer, the approximately 2,300-square-foot exhibit is on display through November. A private, Sept. 19 event will celebrate the installation.

According to Bell Works, the show is designed to prompt dialogue around responsible stewardship of Kiley’s built legacy, as well as the country’s modernist landscape architecture. The renowned landscape architect has ties to Bell Labs’ designer, Eero Saarinen. It’s also the latest example of out-of-the-box thinking to foster community and engagement at the site.

“As stewards and lovers of American Modernism, we’re honored to showcase Mr. Kiley’s legacy,” commented Ralph Zucker.

The CEO and founder of Inspired by Somerset Development, owner of Bell Works, continued, “A close collaborator of Eero Saarinen, whose visionary design shaped Bell Works New Jersey, Kiley’s work is some of the most influential in all of landscape architecture. It’s only fitting we celebrate his timeless contributions as we commemorate a decade of Bell Works and double down on our efforts to serve not only as a nexus for business and community but also as a beacon for arts and culture.”

No stranger to incorporating the arts, the metroburb has previously hosted both temporary and long-term exhibitions. Past installations include Groove by Haley Potter, which pays homage to the musical history at Bell Labs, and Rebirth into the Light by Frankie Disaro, inspired by Claude Monet’s late-life paintings.

At 10 years, Bell Works hits 99% leased (slideshow)

Followed closely by a 42,000-square-foot sublease at the metroburb, the milestone capped a busy 2023 for Inspired by Somerset Development. Read more here.

This May, Bell Works doubled down on its commitment to culture with the introduction of a new venue. The 285-seat Bell Theater at Bell Works plans to host programming including professional theater, dance, concerts and film.

Enriching and evolving

“As the metroburb evolves, it is crucial to enrich our community through arts and cultural events,” commented Paola Zamudio, lead designer and creative director of Bell Works. “Showcasing Dan Kiley’s work in this exhibition allows us to honor his legacy and highlight his influence at Bell Works. We’re devoted to offering programs that educate, inspire and celebrate the contributions of influential individuals to our cultural landscape.”

The show debuted at the Boston Architectural College in 2013. Since, the Dan Kiley exhibit has traveled to more than 20 museums, cultural institutions and universities.

The pieces highlight 27 of Kiley’s more than 1,000 designs. Notable works include:

• The Miller House and Garden in Columbus, Ind.
• The Art Institute of Chicago South Garden in Chicago, Ill.
• Patterns, a garden for Gov. & Mrs. Pierre S. “Pete” du Pont IV, in Delaware

A full-color, free, downloadable galley guide, funded through a Kickstarter campaign, rounds out the experience. “What’s Out There: The Landscape Architecture Legacy of Dan Kiley,” includes images from the exhibition, site descriptions and plans. It also features excerpts from collected personal recollections from Kiley’s colleagues.

“Along with highlighting Kiley’s modernist landscape legacy, this exhibition raises issues about the unique stewardship challenges with a nationally significant modernist property,” said TCLF President and CEO Charles Birnbaum. “Thus, it’s appropriate to have the exhibition at the former Bell Labs site, which is being very well safeguarded by Bell Works.”

More about the exhibition is available here.

More innovations

Bell Works and Fairleigh Dickinson University recently joined forces to collaborate on a new higher education and workforce collaboration. Get the story.