Statue of Liberty Visitor Screening Center Building New York, Expansion, Architect, Island, Design, Images

Statue of Liberty Visitor Screening Center

Visitor Facility Expansion Project at Lady Liberty, USA, design by FXCollaborative

Sep 19, 2019

Statue of Liberty Visitor Screening Center Building

Design: FXCollaborative

FXCollaborative, in partnership with the National Park Service and the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, designed a new 4,000 square-foot building where visitors to Liberty Island pass through security screening before entering the Statue of Liberty.

photo : Iwan Baan

The project also created an area with lockers for visitors to store large personal items that are not permitted inside the monument. This new facility replaced the functions of the previous tent structure that sat on Liberty Island’s Main Mall, directly in front of the entrance to Lady Liberty. The tent was removed when the new building was completed in January 2019.

FXCollaborative also designed the new Statue of Liberty Museum that opened in May 2019.

photo : Aislinn Weidele

Why Was the Facility Built?
The previous tent screening facility was difficult to maintain and required frequent repairs. Hurricane Sandy severely damaged the structure in 2012.

The new building is designed to be much more resilient to weather. Its solid walls and modern equipment will enhance the sustainability of the operation and improve occupant comfort.

The new building also increases the efficiency of visitor screening. It is a purpose-built facility, designed with security in mind, and has cut down on congestion and long lines that had been issues with the existing tent. The location of the building, off of the island’s pedestrian pathways, will make it easy for our visitors to walk freely throughout the island without obstructions.

Lastly, the previous tent sat right in the middle of the Main Mall, where many visitors first approach the Statue of Liberty. The new building will nestle discreetly up against the base of the monument, allowing for unimpeded views of our Lady Liberty as visitors walk up to her.
Background information courtesy of the National Park Service

photo : Aislinn Weidele

Liberty Island Visitor Screening Center – Building Information

Client: Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation
Project Location: Liberty Island, New York, New York
Project timeline: Fall 2017 – January 2019
DD through CD’s: February 2017 – August 2017
Current Status: Complete
Completion date: January 2019
Typology: Civic / Service
How many levels: 1
Square footage (total): 4,000 sf

photo : Aislinn Weidele

PROJECT SCOPE

– Describe the design concept

The client wanted a building that didn’t compete with the Statue but complimented it. FXC utilized the vocabulary of materials that already existed on the Island for the screening facility. Precast concrete panels as the exterior walls match the color of the base of statue.

– Other materials included copper, wood, and a green roof, which allowed the screening facility to blend into the landscape if looking down from the statue.

The idea was for the screening facility, like the museum, to look like it was coming from the landscape.

photograph : Hausman LLC

– What is the neighborhood context and how did that affect your design decisions?

The screening facility was meant to feel like a piece of the museum, relating back to the Statue in terms of materiality, being both inconspicuous so as not to upstage the Statue and complimentary to the statue.

– What unique benefit/s did FXC bring to the project?

FXC has experience with large-scale cultural projects, and is sensitive to context. FXC also has the ability to make a functional, utilitarian building both beautiful and contextual. Additionally, FXC brings expertise in sustainable practices to the project with the implementation of green roofs.

– Was there something FXC did/tried for the first time on this project?

This was the first instance in which the firm implemented a mass timber Glulam roof structure.

photo © Adrian Welch

Consultant Team:
• Structural: DeSimone Consulting Engineers
• MEP: Kohler Ronan
• Civil & Landscape: Langan

Photos: Iwan Baan. & Aislinn Weidele

Location: Statue of Liberty, New York, USA

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image courtesy of FXFOWLE Architects
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Design: FXFOWLE Architects ; Exhibition Designer: ESI Design

photograph : Hausman LLC
Statue of Liberty New York

Statue of Liberty Museum Building Project Architects – FXFOWLE

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Location: Liberty Island, New York
Date: 1884-86
Architect: Frederic Bartholdi

island proposed plan image courtesy National Park Service

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