Building The Statue of Liberty Museum

HOW do you construct a museum next to one of the most famous landmarks in the world? 

This is exactly what architecture firm FX Collaborative, together with the National Park Service and The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation, has been trying to answer when working on the new Statue of Liberty Museum. 

Above: A render showing a view from the museum's roof toward the New York skyline (image courtesy of FX Collaborative).

Since 9/11, access to the Statue of Liberty has been restricted on security grounds, resulting in some 80% of statue's 4.3 million annual visitors not managing to enter the museum located at its base.

Above: Construction started in 2016 (image courtesy of EarthCam).

The new museum is designed to improve access for visitors who wish to learn more about the iconic landmark while also being a discreet addition, whose appearance and massing does not compete with that of the statue.

Above: The new museum has a low profile and green roof to remain unobtrusive (image courtesy of FX Collaborative).

Liberty Island is an important ecological site in New York Harbour. The project team therefore designed a low structure bordering the Flagpole Plaza, topped with a green roof featuring native plants.

Above: The museum's ground floor has been raised above the 500-year flood level (image courtesy of Earth Cam).

Following Hurricane Sandy, the museum's floor was raised above the 500-year flood levels and its roof and landscaping was adapted to include stormwater capture trenches.

The building has also been designed to reduce energy consumption by 33% and its water consumption by up to 50%, giving it a LEED Gold Certification.

Above: Aiming for a LEED Gold Certification, the new space will open in May 2019 (image courtesy of FX Collaborative).

Construction began in 2016 and the new Statue of Liberty Museum will open to visitors in May next year.