Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation
FACT SHEET
Overview
The new Richard Gilder Center for Science,
Education, and Innovation will invite visitors
to experience the Museum not only as a place
of public exhibitions but as an active scientific
and educational institution.
The Gilder Center will include new exhibition
and learning spaces with state-of-the-art
technology and access to the Museums world-
class collections. It will also expand access to a
broader range of the Museums resources for
students, teachers, and families, offering new
learning opportunities and inviting all visitors
to share in the excitement of discovery.
Project Cost
The project cost is estimated to be $340
million. The building is named for Museum
Trustee Richard Gilder in recognition of his
lifetime giving to the Museum, which includes
a new lead gift for the building.
Project Information
More information about the project is
available at amnh.org/GilderCenter
Over the last few decades, annual Museum
Contact us with questions:
three million to approximately five million.
GilderCenter@amnh.org
To accommodate this growth, the proposed
212-769-5246
amnh.org/GilderCenter
The Need
Science is at the core of the most pressing
issues of the dayhuman health, climate
change, and biodiversity conservation, among
others. There is an urgent need to enhance
the public understanding of science and to
provide educational experiences that support
informed engagement with these topics.
There is an equally critical need to address
challenges in STEM (science, technology,
engineering, and math) education. The
Gilder Center will expand the reach and
deepen the impact of the Museums work
in science education, building on a strong
foundation of successful programs such
as Urban Advantage, the Master of Arts in
Teaching Program, and the Science Research
Mentoring Program, which already serve
teachers and students throughout New York
City, New York State, and beyond.
The Gilder Center will make physical and
programmatic connections among existing
and new galleries, classrooms, collections,
and library resources to highlight links across
scientific disciplines and to place educational
experiences within current scientific practice.
attendance has grown from approximately
design includes links to 10 Museum buildings
through approximately 30 connections, vastly
improving visitor circulation and experience.
Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation

FACT SHEET

Design Process and Timeline

The Gilder Center is designed by Jeanne Gang In December 2014, the Museums Board

of Studio Gang Architects. Ralph Appelbaum of Trustees authorized the creation of a

of Ralph Appelbaum Associates is designing conceptual design.

the exhibition experiences, and the landscape
architect is Reed Hilderbrand. In November 2015, the Board endorsed a
conceptual design and authorized proceeding
Approximately 80 percent of the to schematic design, and the Museum held a
approximately 235,000-square-foot project public informational meeting.
will be located within the area currently
occupied by the Museum. Three existing In April 2016, the New York City Department
Museum buildings will be removed to of Parks and Recreation, as lead agency,
minimize the Gilder Center footprint in conducted a City Environmental Quality
Theodore Roosevelt Park to about 11,600 Review public scoping meeting. An
square feet (approximately a quarter acre). environmental impact statement (EIS) is being
prepared for public review and comment.
In June 2016, the Museum revised the original
concept design proposal, to be submitted to In July and September 2016, the Museum
the New York City Department of Parks and held public informational meetings about the
Recreation, for the area of the park in front project, the latter about the application to the
of the Gilder Center, the below-grade service Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC).
area, and the service driveway with the goal
of preserving two notable trees. The revised Manhattans Community Board 7 (CB7) held
proposal, developed with the Park Working public hearings in connection with their review
Group formed to advise on the parks design, of the project in fall 2016. On October 5, 2016,
reduces the number of trees removed due to CB7 approved the architectural design for the
construction to 7 and expands areas for play Gilder Center and landscape design for the
and respite to maintain the parks essential adjacent part of Theodore Roosevelt Park.
character and existing uses.
On October 11, 2016, LPC evaluated the
For the Columbus Avenue faade, the design appropriateness of the projects architecture
team has selected Milford pink granite, the and design, and changes to the adjacent park,
stone used on the Central Park West faade, or and unanimously approved the application.
granite similar in color and character.
The next set of public meetings, anticipated for
spring 2017, is expected to be focused on the
draft environmental impact statement (EIS).

amnh.org/GilderCenter December 2016