Funding has been secured for the renovation and re-opening of the southern entrance of the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (MSI). Located on the northern end of Jackson Park within Hyde Park, the massive museum just received funding for the project in the form of a $10 million grant from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.
Historical view south entrance via MSI
Built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, the building housed fine arts during the fair and is the only major surviving structure of the event. During the fair, the building’s main entrance was on the south side and faced the large basin where visitors on boats could arrive. Like much of the fair, it fell into disrepair until the museum was established in 1933.
Rendering of re-opened south entrance via MSI by RAMSA
Since then, the southern entrance has remained closed, with the areas surrounding it suffering from lack of maintenance. Now that the Obama Center is located to its south and the basin has become the home of the yearly Cherry Blossom bloom, and the museum will begin efforts to restore the area with New-York based architecture firm RAMSA serving as the designers.
Rendering of re-opened south entrance via MSI by RAMSA
Work will begin with the restoration of all of the surrounding pathways and steps leading into the basin. The steps leading up to the museum will be cut in half by a new structure containing a cafe and elevator for added accessibility, this will be capped by a small observation terrace. The museum’s colonnade will also receive a new glass enclosure to contain the new entryway.
Rendering of re-opened south entrance via MSI by RAMSA
With extra attention being paid to details like placing the glass seams behind the existing columns and matching materials, the work is expected to enhance the building and not take away from it. Renovations will commence this spring and run through 2027, a year after the opening of the Obama Center nearby.
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This is going to be awesome especially during the cherry blossoms, particularly when the Obama Presidential Center opens.
Haha ain’t no billionaire gonna change the article’s heading. Just like Sears, John Hancock, CNA… these edifices will never lose their original name.
Glad you caught what I did there!
Was personally disappointed with Preservation Chicago’s article on the renovation. They are too formal sometimes. I like the looseness of YIMBY.
I still respect some of the writers for Urbanize, but the paywall for not having a major difference in website quality has been a turnoff.
Keep being awesome here!
If this edifice is to “never lose [the] original name”, then we should be calling it the Palace of Fine Arts, not MSI.
This should have gone to a local firm, not RAMSA – but then again Ken Griffin hates us.
Maybe now the Park District will be motivated to repair the Darrow Bridge.
Add a statue resembling the original in full height to the renovation.