American Museum of Natural History plans addition
The American Museum of Natural History has announced plans to build an addition to house a new science and education center.
The $325 million Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation is slated to open in 2019, the museum's 150th anniversary.
Museum President Ellen Futter says the 218,000-square-foot center will fully integrate science, education and immersive exhibitions.
The center will be on the Columbus Avenue side of the museum's sprawling grounds near Central Park.
Chicago-based Studio Gang Architects has been selected to design the addition. Ralph Appelbaum Associates will design the exhibitions.
More than $100 million has been raised for the center. It's named for museum trustee Richard Gilder, who donated $50 million.
The museum's graduate school also is named for Gilder. It offers a doctoral program in comparative biology.
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