Morning Headlines: Museum of the American Revolution Breaks Ground
Photo credit: Museum of the American Revolution website.
It’s expected to open sometime in late 2016, but construction of the Museum of the American Revolution will soon be underway. In fact, the Inquirer’s Stephan Salisbury reports that a symbolic groundbreaking took place yesterday for the $119 million building designed Robert A.M. Stern.
You may recall the museum was previously under a lot of scrutiny when renderings first came out, leaving a number of people unimpressed. “Could [it] be constructed in a way to make its Georgian details feel plausibly like real architecture?” asked Inga Saffron in 2012. Even after its redesign, the building’s appearance was still deemed uninspired.
Here’s to hoping the structure, which will stand at 3rd and Chestnut, will prove better in the flesh than in the pictures! Gerry Lenfest sure thinks so. From the Inquirer:
Philanthropist H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, the prime advocate and benefactor for the museum, called the groundbreaking “a milestone” and invited all to return in two years for the opening.
Lenfest, the owner and publisher of The Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com, has advocated for the museum for more than a decade.
• Ground is broken for American Revolution museum [Inquirer]
In other news…
• Blackwell on proposal at 43rd and Baltimore: “Go to the zoning board” [PlanPhilly]
• Deitz & Watson breaking ground on $50 million Northeast Philly plant after devastating fire [Business Journal]
• William Penn Inn demolition plan tabled for now [Main Line Times]
• Langhorne Borough approves new comprehensive plan that aims to keep small town feel [Bucks Local]
• Campbell’s advances plan for Camden office park [Inquirer]
