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Brad Lynch, shown in 2003 at the then-new Racine Art Museum, was principal architect on the museum project, which remained a source of pride throughout his life.
RACINE — He was Racine's gift to the world of architecture, and he made the Racine Art Museum his gift to the community he loved.
Brad Lynch had long since relocated to the big city of Chicago when he was selected in 2003 to design the Racine Art Museum's new downtown headquarters and gallery.
The three-story museum at 441 Main St. would become an award-winning achievement for Lynch, and one to which he would return frequently throughout his life.
"He never lost interest in the building," museum executive director Bruce Pepich said.
Lynch, a Racine native who made a name for himself in Chicago and beyond, died Sept. 26 at age 64, about a week after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.
Colleagues say even though Lynch enjoyed success and renown with many other architectural projects, his connections to Racine — and the art museum in particular — were always in his thoughts.
Jennifer Park, a partner at Lynch's architectural firm in Chicago, recalls traveling with him to Racine about three years ago. Not only did he show her the Racine Art Museum, he gave her a guided tour of the community.
Park also heard Lynch mention his Wisconsin hometown many times in conversation with others.
"It was really part of his story for everybody," she said. "Everybody knew his roots. It was part of who he was."
Born in the late 1950s to Wilfred and Candace Lynch, he was one of five children in the family. His father was a gifted chemist and inventor who pioneered the use of plastics in creating medical implants and other devices.
As a child, Lynch traveled with his parents to Chicago to see a new public sculpture by famed artist Pablo Picasso. Visiting the big city convinced him that he wanted to live there someday.
Lynch graduated from Walden III High School in Racine before enrolling at the University of Wisconsin. One of his first art classes was at the Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, 2519 Northwestern Ave. — the predecessor to the Racine Art Museum.
In his early 30s, Lynch joined with fellow architect David Brininstool to establish the firm Brininstool & Lynch, which they located in Chicago. The firm built a reputation designing office buildings, homes, restaurants and other structures.
Edward Keegan of Architect Magazine wrote of the Racine-born designer, "Lynch’s work displayed an uncompromising approach to modern design that led to evocative renditions of materials and place."
About 10 years after launching his firm, Lynch was contacted about designing a new home for the Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, located on the Racine's east side. When an intriguing alternative site became available in Downtown Racine, museum officials shifted their thinking. The site was a bank and adjacent retail store that had not been renovated since the 1960s.
Lynch combined the two structures into a single place, with a complete remodeling and makeover that created the Racine Art Museum.
"It was really a reinvention of the building," Pepich said.
One of the most striking features of Lynch's project was the exterior facade, which he covered with acrylic panels, each lighted from behind. He liked to say that the building resembled a Japanese lantern.
Located at 441 Main St., the Racine Art Museum, shown with its exterior acrylic panels lit up, attracts about 50,000 visitors a year with its five art galleries exhibiting thousands of pieces.
He also opened up the ground floor with a glass exterior that beckoned to passersby. Museum officials could entice spectators with displays visible through the glass.
When the new museum opened in 2003, Lynch described his design this way: "We looked at it from the point of view of what makes a museum important to a community. We felt it was very important that a museum attract people going by and make them want to go into the space."
The building design has won numerous awards from the Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
The museum today draws about 50,000 visitors a year with thousands of art pieces displayed among five different galleries. The Wustum Museum continues, too, in its original location, partly as an educational center.
Annie Lynch, the architect's daughter, said her father talked frequently about the Racine Art Museum.
"He was incredibly proud to bring something he thought was so special to his hometown," she said.
She remembers that her father would honor his Racine roots every Christmas holiday, too, by ordering authentic Racine Kringle Danish, and having it delivered to the family home in Chicago.
Lynch also is survived by a son, Blake Lynch, who works at Brininstool & Lynch.
His death comes as Racine Art Museum officials are making plans to recognize the museum's 20th anniversary in 2023.
Pepich said the anniversary event will have to be re-examined without Lynch's participation. The architect was involved in early planning, just as he was a donor to the museum and was available whenever staff needed advice about building repairs or other issues.
"He loved Racine," Pepich said. "He became a true, valued member of the museum's family."
Carolyn Grenyo, 71, and husband Steve Grenyo, 70, of Mount Pleasant, look at "Bog," a 2014 watercolor by Joel Jaecks, on Jan. 22, 2015, at the Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, 2519 Northwestern Ave., during the Watercolor Wisconsin exhibit.
Laurie Jensen, 35, and her 11-year-old daughter Lily make a gingerbread house together during the Wustum Museum's annual Gingerbread House Workshop held at Wustum, 2519 Northwestern Ave. on Saturday, December 13, 2014. Wustum art instructor Toni Rowntree, 55, right, led the family-friendly workshop.
Laurie Jensen, 35, and her 11-year-old daughter Lily make a gingerbread house together during the Wustum Museum's annual Gingerbread House Workshop held at Wustum, 2519 Northwestern Ave. on Saturday, December 13, 2014. Wustum art instructor Toni Rowntree, 55, led the family-friendly workshop.
Regina Baker uses watercolor to paint on canvas a photograph she took over summer of her daughter Andrea Baker, 27, and granddaughter Sanaa Hunter, 1, in which her daughter is asleep, while her granddaugter is still awake. Bakter and other artists participated in a Watercolor Studio class hosted by instructor Jean Thielen at the Racine Art Museum's Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, 2519 Northwestern Ave. on Tuesday, February 11, 2014.
Students look at some of the artwork on display at the Racine Unified School District Elementary Art Exhibitions held at the Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts on Sunday, May 3, 2009.
Calvin Bailey, 7, intensely studies the K'Nex structure that he is building at the Children's Fine Arts Festival Sunday, August 13, 2000, at the Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, 2519 Northwestern Avenue.
Mary Ubuntu, 57, Racine, creates a futuristic portrait of a woman using oil paints during a painters' studio class on Monday at the Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, 2519 Northwestern Ave. Ubuntu is also a pastor at the Resurrection Lutheran Church in New Berlin.
Goodland Elementry School art teacher Jane Brosseau talks with student artist Chandler Chardukian, 11, as she looks at art work, created by the students of Racine Unified School District, during the opening reception Sunday afternoon, April 28, 2002, of the Racine Unified School District Student Art Exhibition for Grades K-12 at the Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts.
Kara Pittman, 9, paints a character on a cardboard box while she participates in a scholarship program class which enables 19 kids from elementary and middle schools to take art classes at Wustum Museum of Fine Arts in Racine for free. Students were nominated by their school teachers and evaluated on their positive attitude toward school, as well as their interest in visual arts. Jim Bovin for the Journal Times
Susan Silver demonstrates to a group of Girl Scouts from Brownie troop 281 how to make hand-made paper Valentines from pulp, Thursday, January 26, 2001, at the Wustum Museum.
Angy Elia, 18, leads children on the Dinosaur Costume Parade at the Children's Fine Arts Festival Sunday, August 13, 2000, at the Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, 2519 Northwestern Avenue.
(left to right) Sydney Bryant, Emma Donovan and Emma Bryant work on a bottlecap mosaic sculpture on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at the Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, 2519 Northwestern Ave. The Racine Art Museum hosted a spring break art camp. Children at the camp made giant bugs and mosaics for display at RAM and Wustum.
Stephanie Miranda, 12, on the left, Monica Gonzalez, 13, to her right, are Mitchell Middle School students working on their “reusable book” projects. Children at Spring Break Art Camp at Wustum Museum, 2519 Northwestern Ave, used a variety of art media for different projects.
J.J. Schinkowitch, 9, paints with fly swatter June 15, 2016, during the Kids Day Color Splash at the Racine Art Museum’s Wustum Museum. During the event children were allowed to splatter, squish, drip, drop, stomp, oiur and spray paint while exploring colors and emotions.
Amy Castillo, 30, holds her son, Vinny, 2, as he paints Friday morning, January 29, 2016, during the Mommy & Me (and Daddy too!) ARTOGETHER program at Racine Art Museum’s Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Art, 2519 Northwestern Ave. The next Mommy & Me program will be from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016.
Addisen Prince, 7, a Gifford Elementary School student, gathers up materials for her shadow box project. Children at Spring Break Art Camp on March 13 at RAM's Wustum Museum, 2519 Northwestern Ave., made shadow boxes that use art to tell fairy tale stories with them in it. Photos by Rob Golub
Finley Tompkins, 2, of Racine, gets some help Kerri Hoehn as she makes a holiday ornament on Dec. 19, 2013, during Free Drop In for Art at the Racine Art Museum's Wustum Museum, 2519 Northwestern Ave.
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UPDATE: A 16-year-old boy was shot at the hotel across the street from Case High School Wednesday afternoon, the Mount Pleasant Police Department said.
The suspect had an initial court appearance on Monday at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, online court records show, where a $15,000 cash bond was set.
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The man reportedly was trying to get his car back after it was repossessed.
WATCH NOW: The suspect is shown on body camera video, released by the Racine County Sheriff's Office Tuesday, appearing to attempt to headbutt an officer in the Racine County Jail.
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Brad Lynch, shown in 2003 at the then-new Racine Art Museum, was principal architect on the museum project, which remained a source of pride throughout his life.
Located at 441 Main St., the Racine Art Museum, shown with its exterior acrylic panels lit up, attracts about 50,000 visitors a year with its five art galleries exhibiting thousands of pieces.
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