Mayor Ras Baraka spoke on Wednesday, Feb. 21, as a crowd turned out to mark the completion of renovations and the reopening of the main entrance at the Newark Museum. — All photos courtesy: Giovana Moreano
By Joshua Burd
The Newark Museum has debuted a newly renovated main entrance and interior as part of an effort to connect the institution with the city’s rejuvenated downtown streetscape.
Representatives from Hollister Construction Services were on hand Wednesday to mark the completion of the project after overseeing the work for the museum. They joined local officials and other dignitaries, who hailed the milestone some 20 years after the entrance was first closed.
“Since our inception, we’ve made a constant effort to involve ourselves with projects that benefit and transform communities and reopening the Newark Museum’s grand entrance to the public after 20 years is a great example,” said Matt Higgins, executive vice president at Hollister Construction Services. “Seeing all the happy faces this afternoon during the ribbon cutting ceremony was truly special and reaffirms we love partnering with Newark.”
Located at 49 Washington St., the renovated museum now has a state-of-the-art visitor lobby and a special gallery space for major exhibitions. Stakeholders for the institution had sought to add to the revitalization that is being driven by a residential and commercial construction boom taking place nearby, including Rutgers University’s new 15 Washington St. building and the newly rehabilitated Hahne & Co. property.
The $5.5 million museum project was conceptualized by longtime collaborator Michael Graves Architectural and Design. The front entrance has been renamed in honor of donor Louis Bamberger, who personally funded the museum building in 1926.
In addition to the new double glass doors that will serve as the main entrance, exterior enhancements include a public terrace that will be used for programs and events, plus a new ramp that will make the museum fully accessible. Within the museum, reopening the main entrance will include new visitor amenities and a new special exhibition space of more than 5,000 square feet with wood floors, new ceilings and walls to accommodate major shows.
