American Museum of Natural History begins $383M expansion

The American Museum of Natural History started construction Wednesday on a $383 million education center, expanding the Upper West Side museum following a long battle with neighbors.

The 230,000-square-foot Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation—named for the investment banker and museum trustee—will add exhibition space, a working collections area open to visitors, an insectarium, a butterfly vivarium and a research library and learning center, among other additions. Theodore Roosevelt Park will be redesigned to offer a wide entrance from Columbus Avenue and extra trees and benches.

Museum officials marked the occasion with a ceremonial groundbreaking featuring Mayor Bill de Blasio, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and other dignitaries. The project faced opposition from neighbors who objected to the museum’s plan to appropriate about a quarter-acre of Theodore Roosevelt Park for the project. Opponents argued the expansion should be examined through the city’s land-use approval process, known as the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, and also get sign-off from the state Legislature to take over the green space. The museum argued the 140-year-old lease between it and the city, which owns the park and the land under the museum, provided a legal basis for the expansion.

A lawsuit from the neighborhood group—Community United to Protect Theodore Roosevelt Park—secured a temporary restraining order on the project in December. But the legal challenge was dismissed in April, clearing the way for construction.

Much of the work will take place during the museum’s 150th year in operation, which began in March. The museum expects to open parts of the expansion by fall 2020.

Source: RYAN DEFFENBAUGH, Crain’s New York Business

Filed under: Headlines by Alec Reimon
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