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
| Oct 1, 2013
13 structural steel buildings that dazzle
The Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn and the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., are among projects named 2013 IDEAS2 winners by the American Institute of Steel Construction.
| Sep 19, 2013
What we can learn from the world’s greenest buildings
Renowned green building author, Jerry Yudelson, offers five valuable lessons for designers, contractors, and building owners, based on a study of 55 high-performance projects from around the world.
| Sep 19, 2013
6 emerging energy-management glazing technologies
Phase-change materials, electrochromic glass, and building-integrated PVs are among the breakthrough glazing technologies that are taking energy performance to a new level.
| Sep 19, 2013
Roof renovation tips: Making the choice between overlayment and tear-off
When embarking upon a roofing renovation project, one of the first decisions for the Building Team is whether to tear off and replace the existing roof or to overlay the new roof right on top of the old one. Roofing experts offer guidance on making this assessment.
| Sep 11, 2013
BUILDINGChicago eShow Daily – Day 3 coverage
Day 3 coverage of the BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland conference and expo, taking place this week at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza.
| Sep 10, 2013
BUILDINGChicago eShow Daily – Day 2 coverage
The BD+C editorial team brings you this real-time coverage of day 2 of the BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland conference and expo taking place this week at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza.
| Aug 26, 2013
What you missed last week: Architecture billings up again; record year for hotel renovations; nation's most expensive real estate markets
BD+C's roundup of the top construction market news for the week of August 18 includes the latest architecture billings index from AIA and a BOMA study on the nation's most and least expensive commercial real estate markets.
| Aug 22, 2013
Energy-efficient glazing technology [AIA Course]
This course discuses the latest technological advances in glazing, which make possible ever more efficient enclosures with ever greater glazed area.
| Aug 21, 2013
First look: Petersen Automotive Museum's dramatic facelift
One of the world's largest automotive museums unveils plans for a stunning, sculptured metal exterior and cutting-edge interior upgrades.
| Aug 14, 2013
Green Building Report [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Building Design+Construction's rankings of the nation's largest green design and construction firms.
