Another Robert Stern building in Philly - The Revolution Museum

**salf** · 06-14-2012, 10:21 AM

The design for the $150 million building, by Robert A. M. Stern, is to be unveiled on Tuesday at the site where it is expected to open in 2015, at South Third and Chestnut Streets. The center also announced a $40 million challenge grant from its chairman, H. F. Lenfest, a media entrepreneur and philanthropist in suburban Philadelphia.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/ar...tern.html?_r=1

**carloss** · 06-14-2012, 03:19 PM

Ehh Renedering (sic) of Revolutionary War Museum in Ind Mall

**OffenseTaken** · 06-14-2012, 03:29 PM

Between the renderings of the design and the description of what's inside, I'm trying to figure out which sounds like a more colossal bore.

**thoth** · 06-14-2012, 08:32 PM

Focus! At least we're going to jettison that embarrassment of a Visitor's Center

**OffenseTaken** · 06-14-2012, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by thoth

Focus! At least we're going to jettison that embarrassment of a Visitor's Center

I dunno: is the 70's-era complex really any more of an "embarrassment" than the Independence NHP in general? Even if it is, Lenfest's Olde House of Historick Tchotchkes is scarcely an improvement. If I hadn't read about this, I probably could have walked down Third Street at some point in a few years, after it's done, and not even noticed that something was different was there.

**BarryG** · 06-15-2012, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by OffenseTaken

I dunno: is the 70's-era complex really any more of an "embarrassment" than the Independence NHP in general? Even if it is, Lenfest's Olde House of Historick Tchotchkes is scarcely an improvement. If I hadn't read about this, I probably could have walked down Third Street at some point in a few years, after it's done, and not even noticed that something was different was there.

Visitors seem to like Independence Mall, I don't think it's an embarrassment, even though it is a colossal waste of space.

**thoth** · 06-15-2012, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

Visitors seem to like Independence Mall, I don't think it's an embarrassment, even though it is a colossal waste of space.

Agreed, not even tourists like the visitor's center. The mall is flawed, the center was boondoggle from the get go and remains an unusable heap.

**Titus** · 06-16-2012, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by thoth

Agreed, not even tourists like the visitor's center. The mall is flawed, the center was boondoggle from the get go and remains an unusable heap.

Are you talking about the old and soon to be replaced Visitor's Center or the current one? I agree the old one was a failure. I am mystified by the proposal to put a "bell" in the cupola of the New Revolutionary War Museum as there is a fine bell in the soon to be demolished (and rightly detested by you) bell tower. Surely they are aware such a bell exists and if so would have planned to re-use it. Then again, this is Philadelphia...

**DCnPhilly** · 07-07-2012, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by Titus

Are you talking about the old and soon to be replaced Visitor's Center or the current one? I agree the old one was a failure. I am mystified by the proposal to put a "bell" in the cupola of the New Revolutionary War Museum as there is a fine bell in the soon to be demolished (and rightly detested by you) bell tower. Surely they are aware such a bell exists and if so would have planned to re-use it. Then again, this is Philadelphia...

Are you serious? I assumed they were reusing the same bell, which I believe is the bicentennial bell given as a gift from England.

**supersupper** · 02-01-2013, 08:04 AM

Bicentennial Bell packed up, auguring changes at Independence Park

A few hours later, held firmly by yellow hoists attached to a yellow crane, it was lifted again and guided into a great crate, to be trucked away to storage.

Independence National Historical Park officials must now mull where the bell's next permanent home will be.

The dramatic move from the 130-foot tower at the northern end of the old visitor-center site also marks the most public evidence that change is coming. Independence Park no longer owns the entire visitor-center property. The Museum of the American Revolution will be moving in, and the bell's departure augers the eventual arrival of a new museum building, believed to house the nation's only public museum devoted to telling the story of America's war for independence.

Park spokesman Adam Dunn said the bell would be in storage for an unspecified period of time.

"We definitely will put it on display for the public," he said. "Exactly how and when and where hasn't been decided."

Michael C. Quinn, president of the Museum of the American Revolution, watched the bell's move Thursday. He said his organization has "just passed $93 million" in its fund-raising efforts, leaving about $17 million to go before construction will begin. At $110 million, the building project will be fully funded. (The museum is also seeking $40 million for programming and endowment.)

"We don't want a hole in the ground" while fund-raising continues, Quinn said. "We want to raise the money before we start."

"auguring" ? creative writing class?

**mixiboi** · 02-01-2013, 11:50 AM

The bicentennial bell should be near the Liberty Bell....

**thoth** · 02-01-2013, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by mixiboi

The bicentennial bell should be near the Liberty Bell....

I think it should be as far away from the original as possible to maximize the area of the city that is bathed in the freedom rays that emanate from both bells.

**Titus** · 02-01-2013, 12:48 PM

I don't care where they put it as long as they use it and it is hung so that it can be heard! The city already has another "replica' of the Liberty Bell - the "Stetson Bell" that has been in storage since 1980 when it was removed from the ruins of the old Stetson factory.

**BenStone** · 02-18-2013, 03:19 PM

I really, really wish the National Park Service hadn't screwed up the original plan to build the American Revolution Center in the abandoned quarry behind the Valley Forge Park visitors center. It would not have disturbed any archaeological remains (already done by the quarry in the 19th century), the quarry walls would have masked much of the bulk of the building, and the Valley Forge Historical Society collection (which forms the core of ARC's holdings) would have stayed at Valley Forge.

The Paulings Road site (on the opposite side of Rte. 422 from St. Gabriel's) was a bad (and desperate) idea, but had the best of intentions: making the ARC self-sustainable by including retail and lodging.

Given the proximity of the VF visitor center to the 422 Expressway (and Rte. 23), I can't believe a compromise wasn't possible.

I just find this planned museum at 3rd & Chestnut sad.

**DCnPhilly** · 02-21-2013, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by BenStone

I really, really wish the National Park Service hadn't screwed up the original plan to build the American Revolution Center in the abandoned quarry behind the Valley Forge Park visitors center. It would not have disturbed any archaeological remains (already done by the quarry in the 19th century), the quarry walls would have masked much of the bulk of the building, and the Valley Forge Historical Society collection (which forms the core of ARC's holdings) would have stayed at Valley Forge.

The Paulings Road site (on the opposite side of Rte. 422 from St. Gabriel's) was a bad (and desperate) idea, but had the best of intentions: making the ARC self-sustainable by including retail and lodging.

Given the proximity of the VF visitor center to the 422 Expressway (and Rte. 23), I can't believe a compromise wasn't possible.

I just find this planned museum at 3rd & Chestnut sad.

I don't know if I'd call it sad. It certain beats what's currently there and will improve the tourist experience in the city. Still, Valley Forge could certainly benefit from some improvements of its own.

**supersupper** · 02-21-2013, 08:12 PM

The Valley Forge building was certainly more interesting architecturally than Stern's is. That certainly is sad for any aficionado of buildings.

But one look at that VF building? Anyone versed in the reality of economics knew it wasn't viable.

I think it sad that Stern didn't stretch his creative juices for the OC site. Of course if he had been offered more money (for a real building rather than just a fancy rendering) I bet his muscle would have been up to the task because money is important for such an established firm.

It's sad a hungry upstart wasn't enlisted. Nonetheless, despite architectural quality, the Philly museum will certainly draw more visitors than VF ever could have hoped to.

Nothing that mattered really happened in VF anyway.

**CHIOSSO** · 02-21-2013, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by Titus

I don't care where they put it as long as they use it and it is hung so that it can be heard! The city already has another "replica' of the Liberty Bell - the "Stetson Bell" that has been in storage since 1980 when it was removed from the ruins of the old Stetson factory.

I always wondered what happened to that bell.