Franklin Institute Breaks Ground For New 53-Thousand Square Foot Addition
By Hadas Kuznits
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A groundbreaking was held on Thursday for a new, $65-million project at the Franklin Institute.
The groundbreaking was for a new, 53-thousand square foot addition to the museum.
"It'll be one of the largest expansions we've ever done," said Steve Snyder, Vice President of Exhibit and Program Development.
He said the project will extend the building out to Race Street.
"When the building was initially planned, it was initially planned as a giant square," he said. "All of the building wasn't built, so now we're kind of filling out that space that wasn't completed in the 1930's and then in 1990."
As for what is being put in this 53,000 sf of space...
"The first floor will be new education classrooms and meeting spaces, and the second floor will be a new 10-thousand square-foot exhibit on the brain -- a full exploration of neuroscience," Snyder said. "It's going to be all about your brain, the most interesting thing you have in your body, and then the 3rd floor will be new traveling exhibit space."
The addition is scheduled for completion by 2014.
