The Museum of Science & History (MOSH) said Tuesday it has selected DLR Group as the lead architect for its planned Northbank location. DLR Group will work with kasper architects + associates, a Jacksonville architecture firm, and SCAPE, a New York-based landscape architecture firm.
As part of the announcement, three new interior renderings of the museum were released, but they're “intended for illustrative purposes only,” meaning they do not necessarily represent a final design or vision.
MOSH is planning to build the new science and history museum on the Shipyards property along the St. Johns River on the Northbank.
MOSH, which is currently located on the Southbank next to Friendship Fountain, is projecting that by building a new facility it will be able to serve 58,000 students (a 50% increase over pre-pandemic numbers) and 469,000 visitors (a 168% increase) each year.
“We knew this project required the expertise of both a national firm with deep experience in museum architecture and a local partner with existing relationships and knowledge of the Jacksonville market. Together, we know DLR Group, kasper architects + associates, and SCAPE will bring our vision to life,” said Bruce Fafard, president and CEO of MOSH, in an email to WJCT News.
MOSH is in negotiations with the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) to develop a term sheet for a 4-acre parcel at the Jacksonville Shipyards. The Shipyards area is across the street from the Maxwell House coffee plant and stretches beyond it to the east.
The museum said pre-construction site work could begin as early as Q1 2022, following all necessary site approvals through the DIA. The $85 million project is expected to take three years to complete.
The museum has been raising money for the project through its Genesis capital campaign. In June, MOSH announced it was nearing the $31 million mark in fundraising.
Among the largest contributors is Jaguars owner Shad Khan and his family. They are donating $5 million for the new museum as Khan is trying to redevelop a large portion of the Northbank nearby. His plans include building a Four Seasons hotel and a football "performance center" next to the stadium.
DLR Group Senior Principal Paul Westlake, who leads the firm’s Cultural+Performing Arts practice, said, "We are honored to be part of this groundbreaking project and are fortunate to be partners with both kasper architects and SCAPE. Erik Kasper and his team impressed us with their design ethos, knowledge of Jacksonville processes and their deep community-service efforts. Kate Orff and the SCAPE team believe landscape architecture can enable positive change in communities by regenerating living infrastructure and public landscapes."
MOSH has operated its current 77,000-square-foot facility since 1969.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
