FXFOWLE has revealed plans for a new Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, and the multi-transparent buildings are embedded into the landscape which become part of the green environment under hard-edged roofs. The plans released with The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. (SOLEIF) and the National Park Service/U.S. Department of the Interior. The new museum building occupies 2,415 square meters (26,000 square-foot) area on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.

This is the first new building construction undertaken by the Foundation, which has been responsible for historic restoration and preservation since the 1980s. The new 2,415 square meters (26,000-square-foot) museum was designed by New York-based architecture firm FXFOWLE and exhibitions are being created by experience design firm ESI Design. 

The museum will be built in collaboration with Phelps Construction Group. The new museum—which is the key part of a beautification plan that also includes landscaping and lighting— will give the more than 4.3 million annual visitors to the Statue of Liberty the opportunity to learn about and honor the Statue’s history, influence, and legacy in the world. The current Statue of Liberty Museum, located inside the Statue of Liberty monument, is only accessible to a small fraction of the Statue’s visitors due to the safety upgrades that were put in place following September 11, 2001.

Diane von Furstenberg was named chair of the fundraising campaign that seeks to raise $100 million for the Foundation, which, in partnership with the National Park Service, was responsible for the historic restorations of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and will build this new $70 million museum.

''The Statue of Liberty is not just one of the most recognized monuments in the world, but an international symbol of hope that deserves to have her story shared with everyone who visits Liberty Island,'' said Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation President and CEO Stephen Briganti. 

''We are so honored to have Diane von Furstenberg, who was so inspired by the Statue herself when she first arrived in America, leading the fundraising campaign for the new museum.''

"Lady Liberty is the symbol of everything America is about: freedom, hope, possibility and resilience. It is She that millions of immigrants saw first as they arrived in this country, their hearts full of dreams for a brighter future. Now it is my hope that the Statue of Liberty and her incredible story will live on and on, inspiring generations for years to come," said Diane von Furstenberg.

As ‘godmother’ of this new chapter of Lady Liberty’s rich history, von Furstenberg had the idea to create a magnificent mural at the museum’s entrance, an artistic evocation inspired by yet another of America’s most meaningful symbols – the American flag. Each of the fifty “Liberty Stars” will be sculpted into a mural crafted from the original hand-forged iron bars, created by engineer Gustave Eiffel which supported the Statue of Liberty for 100 years and were removed and preserved during her 1986 centennial restoration. The underwriting of each Liberty Star is $2 million. 

“With state-of-the-art exhibitions and iconic artifacts including the Statue’s original torch, the new Statue of Liberty Museum will ensure that future generations know, understand, and appreciate all that Lady Liberty represents in America and around the world,” said Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island Superintendent John Piltzecker.

The exhibits inside the new Statue of Liberty Museum, created by ESI Design, will provoke insight, stir emotions, and inspire ideas about the Statue of Liberty and the ideals she represents. To begin, an immersive experience will take visitors on a virtual flythrough inside the monument with awe-inspiring perspectives and an overview of the story of Lady Liberty and how the world has changed around her. 

Visitors can then delve into stories about the Statue’s construction, history, and global impact through historic artifacts, immersive media, and interactives. The culmination of the museum experience has visitors consider their own roles in liberty’s future through engaging activities. 

“Our goal is for visitors to take away a richer picture of what the Statue of Liberty has meant to people throughout her history – not only in this nation but around the world – and to see themselves as part of the amazing story of liberty’s future,” said Edwin Schlossberg, President and Principal Designer of ESI Design.

If everything goes on a plan, the new museum is expected to be opened to the public in 2019. 

Project Facts

Project name: The Statue of Liberty Museum

Architect: FXFOWLE

Location: New York

Client: The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., Statue of Liberty National Monument and the National Park Service

All images © FXFOWLE 

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