Fallingwater Completes $7 Million Restoration After 3 Years

Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic Pennsylvania home gets new roof, masonry, doors, and windows.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:52pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An impressionistic, dreamlike scene of a waterfall cascading over rocky outcroppings, with the outline of a home's structure barely visible through the hazy, atmospheric lighting, conveying a sense of tranquility and timelessness.The iconic Fallingwater residence, restored to its natural splendor after years of careful preservation work, now welcomes visitors to experience Frank Lloyd Wright's vision of living in harmony with the waterfall.Today in Pittsburgh

After a three-year, $7 million renovation project, Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Fallingwater residence in Pennsylvania has completed a major restoration effort to address issues like a leaky roof and other structural concerns. The home, which was commissioned by the Kaufmann family in 1935, has undergone preservation work before but this latest project was one of the most extensive overhauls in its history.

Why it matters

Fallingwater is considered one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most iconic and influential designs, seamlessly integrating the home into the natural waterfall setting. However, this integration has also made the home particularly vulnerable to the elements over the decades, requiring ongoing preservation efforts to maintain its structural integrity and allow public access.

The details

The restoration work included replacing the roof, doors, exterior walls, and other key components to address issues like water leaks that had developed over time. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the nonprofit that owns and operates Fallingwater, oversaw the project which was completed recently, allowing the home to reopen for tours and programming.

  • Fallingwater was originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935.
  • A previous major preservation effort took place between 2001 and 2002 to strengthen the living room cantilevers.
  • The latest $7 million restoration project began in 2023 and was just completed in 2026.

The players

Frank Lloyd Wright

The renowned American architect who designed the iconic Fallingwater residence in 1935.

Kaufmann family

The owners of a local Pittsburgh department store who commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design Fallingwater as their private residence.

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

The nonprofit organization that currently owns and operates the Fallingwater estate, overseeing its preservation and public access.

Jamie Gunther

The director and vice president of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, who discussed the unique challenges of maintaining Fallingwater in a 2025 interview.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I want you to live with the waterfall”

— Frank Lloyd Wright, Architect

“If you think about your own house, you replace your roof every 25 years, you paint the clapboard every 15 years. It's just a little more complicated at Fallingwater because it's a house over a waterfall, there's a stream running underneath it; take your own house and the complications of doing repairs and multiply them by a thousand.”

— Jamie Gunther, Director and Vice President, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

What’s next

With the latest restoration work now complete, Fallingwater has reopened for daily tours from 8:30am to 4:30pm through November 30, then on weekends in December.

The takeaway

Preserving Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterpieces like Fallingwater requires ongoing, intensive efforts to maintain their structural integrity and public accessibility, as the homes' unique integration with the natural environment creates complex challenges that go beyond typical building maintenance.