Building work begins on 430000squarefoot Bible Museum
The eight-storey, 430,000-square-foot Museum of the Bible took a giant step toward its 2017 opening in Washington, D.C., beginning with surgical demolition of a 1982 addition to the historical building that will be reinvented as an international Bible museum.
Design renderings and video of live demolition are available online and Professor Gordon Campbell of the School of English is playing a pivotal role in the Museum's development. Professor Campbell, an expert on the King James Bible and a specialist in 17th century and Renaissance studies, has been tasked with overseeing sections of the museum focused on Biblical archaeology and the book's history.
Clark Construction will lead the construction efforts and will work alongside the museum’s architectural design team, D.C.-based SmithGroupJJR.
Throughout 2015, visitors to the site will witness ongoing surgical demolition. Later, across 2016 and 2017, will come the installation of the new rooftop addition, expansion above the Washington Office Center, exterior glazing and renovations, streetscape improvements, and, of course, build-out of the museum’s content and experiential technologies.
Content for the museum’s permanent exhibit floors is still being designed and refined by a team of scholars, consultants and other experts. Additional details, including the announcement of museum partnerships and technological innovations for the guest experience, will be announced at a later date.