Serweta Peck Transforms Historic Canal Building into Flexible Art Hub with Upcycled Furniture

Serweta Peck has successfully finished the renovation of a historic structure situated along the Erie Canal in Medina, New York, in preparation for the first Medina Triennial, which commenced in September 2025 and will run from June to September 2026. This initiative, developed in partnership with the Medina Triennial 2026, the New York Power Authority (NYPA), and the Canal Corporation, seeks to rejuvenate cities in the rust belt. Collaborating with architecture students from SUNY Buffalo, Peck designed adaptable furniture named 'Objects Of Affection' using repurposed materials such as recycled wine corks and 200-year-old oak wood donated by NYPA. The interior showcases exposed steel and masonry while retaining the original tin ceiling, complemented by a teal epoxy 'water line' symbolizing canal levels. After the triennial, the furniture will be auctioned, sold, donated, or recycled.