ALLENTOWN, PA.- Closed for almost a year while undergoing major renovation and expansion, The Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley announced it will reopen its doors to the public on October 16, 2011. The $15.4 million expansion and renovation project, designed by the renowned architecture firm Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates (VSBA) and constructed by Alvin H. Butz, Inc., has added 7,900 square feet to the museum and created a modern, warm and welcoming atmosphere for visitors. In addition to expanded exhibition space, the project included a new entrance through the portico of the 1901 church building; a modernized façade structure that aligns with the original building; much-needed storage space for collections; and a number of visitor amenities, a more spacious gift shop and a new museum café, scheduled to open in winter 2011. “I am delighted to announce that October 16, 2011, will be the official r