Liberty Island, the home of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, is about to receive a new 26,000-sf Statue of Liberty Museum. The museum will provide guests to the tiny island an alternative experience if they are not one of the lucky few to actually get inside the statue.
The $70 million museum is being designed by FXFOWLE and will be built by Phelps Construction Group. Phelps has worked closely with FXFOWLE in order to determine the most efficient way to construct the sustainable building.
The first floor of the new museum will be built above the 500-year flood level and will have the ability to withstand hurricane force winds. Part of the roof will be planted with vegetation native to the area while the rest will be used as a viewing platform flanked on one side by Lady Liberty and on the other by the Manhattan skyline.
The interior of the museum will feature exhibits and interactive displays providing information about the Statue of Liberty’s history, influence, and legacy. ESI Design will create the exhibits, which will include a theater, an engagement gallery, and an inspiration gallery. One of the largest pieces on display in the museum will be the Statue of Liberty’s original torch, which was replaced during a renovation of the statue in the 1980s. The torch will be displayed in a glass-walled space allowing visitors to view the old torch and its replacement at the same time, according to The New York Times.
Funding for the museum is being covered by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, which has already raised about $40 million.
The expected completion date for the new museum is in 2019.
Related Stories
| May 24, 2018
Accelerate Live! talk: Security and the built environment: Insights from an embassy designer
In this 15-minute talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), embassy designer Tom Jacobs explores ways that provide the needed protection while keeping intact the representational and inspirational qualities of a design.
Museums | Apr 2, 2018
‘Canopy of Peace’ to rise 150 feet above The National WWII Museum
The piece will tie together the six-acre campus.
Museums | Mar 27, 2018
The future of museums: The ultimate visitor experience
Kirill Pivovarov discusses how museums and retail stores are influencing each other to create a better visitor experience. Special thanks to Paul Conder for contributing his retail insights.
Museums | Feb 26, 2018
*UPDATED* Design team unveils plans for the renovated and expanded Gateway Arch Museum
The goal of the project is to create closer and more robust connections between the Gateway Arch Museum and the landscape of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.
Museums | Jan 11, 2018
Suzhou Science & Technology Museum will highlight new cultural district in Shishan Park
The 600,000-sf museum will be about 62 miles northwest of Shanghai.
Museums | Dec 12, 2017
History museum embodies the culture of the Oregon coast
The barnlike structure comprises 15,000 sf of space.
Museums | Oct 3, 2017
Denmark’s new LEGO experience hub looks like it’s made out of giant LEGO blocks
The 12,000-sm building is part of Billund, Denmark’s goal to become the ‘Capital for Children.’
Museums | Sep 28, 2017
Tunnel-boring machine will be the centerpiece of a planned 150,000-sf Metro Museum in Wuhan, China
GreenbergFarrow beat out five other design firms for the opportunity to design the museum.
Museums | Sep 15, 2017
Former basketball gym becomes Stanford Athletics ‘Home of Champions’
The Home of Champions uses interactive displays to showcase Stanford’s 126-year history of student athletes.
Museums | Sep 8, 2017
CAF announces plans for 20,000-sf Chicago Architecture Center to be built on East Wacker Drive
The Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill-designed space will open in summer 2018.
