News Release - Thomas Polansky Appointed VP for Operations and Facilities at The Huntington

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens announced today the appointment of Thomas Polansky to the position of Vice President for Operations and Facilities.

SAN MARINO, Calif.— The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens announced today the appointment of Thomas Polansky to the position of Vice President for Operations and Facilities. Polansky, who currently is associate vice president of facilities management at Occidental College, joins The Huntington’s senior leadership on April 1, 2021.

“Tom’s extensive experience in managing historic structures and overseeing a full complement of facilities on a college campus, along with his background in deftly managing a large staff, makes him an excellent choice for the job,” said Karen R. Lawrence, Huntington President. “The search committee and I were particularly impressed by Tom’s focus on team leadership and his deep commitment to coaching and mentoring his staff.” At The Huntington, Polansky will supervise a team of 130.

Since joining the Occidental staff in 2013, Polansky has overseen master planning, construction, maintenance, environmental health and safety, and custodial services, among other responsibilities. Major initiatives included construction of a new aquatic and tennis center, a recording studio, offices, science labs, landscapes, and classrooms. He is responsible for more than 80 staff. Before going to Oxy, Polansky served as director of facilities management for Abode Communities, a nonprofit providing affordable housing in the Los Angeles area. He also has served as a project manager at UCLA and headed his own architectural firm in the early 2000s.

Polansky has a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a master’s in architecture from the University of Virginia.

“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime,” said Polansky, on joining The Huntington’s staff. “I find the size, complexity, and beauty of the property alone to be compelling. The scope and scale of the projects underway—from the renovation of the historic Tea Room to the installation of the amazing Japanese magistrate’s house—immediately drew my attention. And then combine them with The Huntington’s incredible range of talent, and it’s a simple decision: This is the place to be.”

Polansky will oversee The Huntington’s buildings and facilities across the 207-acre property, master planning and space use, security, custodial services, safety and emergency planning, infrastructure, construction, and project management, among other related areas.

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Contacts
Thea M. Page, 626-405-2260, tpage@huntington.org
Lisa Blackburn, 626-405-2140, lblackburn@huntington.org

About The Huntington
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, a collections-based research and educational institution, aspires to be a welcoming place of engagement and reflection for a diverse community. The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino, Calif., 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles. Visitor information: huntington.org or 626-405-2100. (Check huntington.org for updates during this period for new visitation protocols due to COVID-19.)