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14 Cultural Institutions Undergoing Major Renovations in Philly

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renovation-week

Philly's ongoing building boom doesn't only include luxury high-rises and skyscrapers. Plenty of the city's cultural institutions are currently under construction, from historic hotels to iconic museums to 21st century libraries. We've mapped more than a dozen of the major projects that are either in the midst of construction or expected to begin this year.

Know of another cultural institution undergoing renovations that we should add to the list? Leave a comment or send a tip to philly@curbed.com.

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National Constitution Center

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The National Constitution Center is currently renovating its Sidney Kimmel Theater, which is home to Freedom Rising, the longest-running multimedia show in Philadelphia. The renovation will upgrade the production and technology in time for July's Democratic National Convention. The theater is closed from now until June 12.

Latham Hotel

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The Latham Hotel, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, closed its doors in November 2015. It will re-open this summer as 144 apartments . James Pearlstein of Pearlstein Properties tells Property that the hotel will be converted into 144 apartments, and that there are no retail plans in the works.

Art Institute of Philadelphia

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The incredible Art Deco building which houses the Art Institute of Philadelphia was bought by Pearl Properties in 2015. The project will include an Old Navy flagship on three levels and 75,000 square feet of office space on the upper floors. Construction is expected to be complete this summer.

Mormon Temple

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Construction of the Mormon Temple is nearing completion after breaking ground on September 27, 2011. Designed by the Atlanta-based architecture firm Perkins+Will, the granite building sits on 1.6 acres and clocks in at 53,000 square feet. On the same site will be a 32-story residential tower designed by BLT Architects and Robert A.M. Stern, which will feature 258 apartments, 13 townhouses, and street-level retail. It's on track to be ready for its open house in August. It's official grand opening is September 18, 2016.

The Bourse

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The historic Beaux-Arts Bourse building will undergo a $40 million renovation. The nation's first commodities exchange will be restored to its former late 19th-century glory. In addition, the building will get a new lobby, roof deck, and gym for future office tenants. The design will be led by BLT Architects.

Museum of the American Revolution

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Taking the place of the old Bicentennial Visitor Center will be the Robert A.M. Stern-designed Museum of the American Revolution. The proposed 117,000-square-foot museum broke ground in 2014 and is expected to open in 2017.

Divine Lorraine Hotel

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After years of neglect, the historic Divine Lorraine hotel is finally undergoing a $44 million renovation that will include apartments, retail, and restaurants. The apartments are scheduled to be move-in ready by the end of 2016 and are currently available for pre-leasing. The whole renovation is expected to be complete in 2017.

JFK Plaza / Love Park

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One of Philly's most iconic parks is currently closed while it undergoes a $16.5 million renovation. It broke ground in February 2016, and the iconic Love sculpture was moved across the street to Dilworth Park for the time being. The mid-century modern Fairmount Park Visitors Center will feature a futuristic art installation and the granite-heavy plaza will be redesigned to include a lot more green space. It's expected to re-open in spring 2017.

Free Library of Philadelphia

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Thanks to a $25 million grant from the William Penn Foundation, the Free Library of Philadelphia at Parkway Central will undego a major renovation that will consolidate the six floors of stacked shelving into a two-story common area. It will also include a new Business Resource and Innovation Center, and teen center. It's designed by architect Moshe Safdie and will begin construction this fall.

The Curtis Center

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The historic Curtis Center, originally the home of the Curtis Publishing Company Building, is currently undergoing a $25 million renovation. Plans call for turning 90,000 square feet of office space into luxury apartments, retail on the ground floor, a PJ Clarke's restaurant, and 700,000 square feet of office space. Construction is expected to be complete in the summer of 2017.

AKA Washington Square

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AKA Washington Square, the historic building on Chestnut Street that's become known for its role in Silver Linings Playbook, is currently in the middle of a multi-million dollar renovation. And even with the $20 million already put into the project, it'll be another $6 million and a few more years before the owners can say that building has been restored to its former glory.

Temple University Library

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The highly-anticipated Snøhetta-designed Temple Library broke ground in mid-April 2016 and is expected to be complete in the Fall of 2018. When all is said and done, it will feature one of the state's largest green roofs and at $70 million will be the university's biggest project to date.

One Drexel Plaza

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The first major project that developers plan to tackle for the $3.5 billion Schuylkill Yards plans will be the transforming the 1.3-acre plot in front of One Drexel Plaza and the Bulletin Building into an elliptical green space that will serve as the hub of activity. Brandywine Realty hopes to break ground this fall.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

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The Philadelphia Museum of Art announced its Strategic Vision for the Philadelphia Museum of Art back in 2014, with the help of Frank Gehry and his vision for the institution. Not too much has happened since then—the plans will not include major exterior changes. But Gehry's designs for the interiors will aim to make the space more navigable, and will include 124,000 sf of interior public space, including 78,000 sf of gallery space throughout the building. It's expected to be rolled out in phases and take 10 to 15 years. Total cost is about $350 million.

National Constitution Center

The National Constitution Center is currently renovating its Sidney Kimmel Theater, which is home to Freedom Rising, the longest-running multimedia show in Philadelphia. The renovation will upgrade the production and technology in time for July's Democratic National Convention. The theater is closed from now until June 12.

Latham Hotel

The Latham Hotel, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, closed its doors in November 2015. It will re-open this summer as 144 apartments . James Pearlstein of Pearlstein Properties tells Property that the hotel will be converted into 144 apartments, and that there are no retail plans in the works.

Art Institute of Philadelphia

The incredible Art Deco building which houses the Art Institute of Philadelphia was bought by Pearl Properties in 2015. The project will include an Old Navy flagship on three levels and 75,000 square feet of office space on the upper floors. Construction is expected to be complete this summer.

Mormon Temple

Construction of the Mormon Temple is nearing completion after breaking ground on September 27, 2011. Designed by the Atlanta-based architecture firm Perkins+Will, the granite building sits on 1.6 acres and clocks in at 53,000 square feet. On the same site will be a 32-story residential tower designed by BLT Architects and Robert A.M. Stern, which will feature 258 apartments, 13 townhouses, and street-level retail. It's on track to be ready for its open house in August. It's official grand opening is September 18, 2016.

The Bourse

The historic Beaux-Arts Bourse building will undergo a $40 million renovation. The nation's first commodities exchange will be restored to its former late 19th-century glory. In addition, the building will get a new lobby, roof deck, and gym for future office tenants. The design will be led by BLT Architects.

Museum of the American Revolution

Taking the place of the old Bicentennial Visitor Center will be the Robert A.M. Stern-designed Museum of the American Revolution. The proposed 117,000-square-foot museum broke ground in 2014 and is expected to open in 2017.

Divine Lorraine Hotel

After years of neglect, the historic Divine Lorraine hotel is finally undergoing a $44 million renovation that will include apartments, retail, and restaurants. The apartments are scheduled to be move-in ready by the end of 2016 and are currently available for pre-leasing. The whole renovation is expected to be complete in 2017.

JFK Plaza / Love Park

One of Philly's most iconic parks is currently closed while it undergoes a $16.5 million renovation. It broke ground in February 2016, and the iconic Love sculpture was moved across the street to Dilworth Park for the time being. The mid-century modern Fairmount Park Visitors Center will feature a futuristic art installation and the granite-heavy plaza will be redesigned to include a lot more green space. It's expected to re-open in spring 2017.

Free Library of Philadelphia

Thanks to a $25 million grant from the William Penn Foundation, the Free Library of Philadelphia at Parkway Central will undego a major renovation that will consolidate the six floors of stacked shelving into a two-story common area. It will also include a new Business Resource and Innovation Center, and teen center. It's designed by architect Moshe Safdie and will begin construction this fall.

The Curtis Center

The historic Curtis Center, originally the home of the Curtis Publishing Company Building, is currently undergoing a $25 million renovation. Plans call for turning 90,000 square feet of office space into luxury apartments, retail on the ground floor, a PJ Clarke's restaurant, and 700,000 square feet of office space. Construction is expected to be complete in the summer of 2017.

AKA Washington Square

AKA Washington Square, the historic building on Chestnut Street that's become known for its role in Silver Linings Playbook, is currently in the middle of a multi-million dollar renovation. And even with the $20 million already put into the project, it'll be another $6 million and a few more years before the owners can say that building has been restored to its former glory.

Temple University Library

The highly-anticipated Snøhetta-designed Temple Library broke ground in mid-April 2016 and is expected to be complete in the Fall of 2018. When all is said and done, it will feature one of the state's largest green roofs and at $70 million will be the university's biggest project to date.

One Drexel Plaza

The first major project that developers plan to tackle for the $3.5 billion Schuylkill Yards plans will be the transforming the 1.3-acre plot in front of One Drexel Plaza and the Bulletin Building into an elliptical green space that will serve as the hub of activity. Brandywine Realty hopes to break ground this fall.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art announced its Strategic Vision for the Philadelphia Museum of Art back in 2014, with the help of Frank Gehry and his vision for the institution. Not too much has happened since then—the plans will not include major exterior changes. But Gehry's designs for the interiors will aim to make the space more navigable, and will include 124,000 sf of interior public space, including 78,000 sf of gallery space throughout the building. It's expected to be rolled out in phases and take 10 to 15 years. Total cost is about $350 million.