Controversy Erupts Over Revamped Entrance at Chicago's Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

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The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is facing criticism over plans to revamp its north entrance, with mixed reactions from experts and the community.

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, located in Chicago's Jackson Park, is undergoing a significant transformation of its north entrance, a move that has sparked controversy among critics. This iconic museum, which spans a substantial 400,000 square feet and showcases one of the world's largest collections of industrial artifacts, was originally constructed for the 1893 World’s Columbia Exposition as the Palace of Fine Arts. Over the years, it has undergone various iterations, ultimately becoming dedicated to industry in the early 1930s. Traditionally, the museum featured both north and south entrances, but the north entrance, accessed from 57th Street, has proven to be more popular among visitors compared to the south entrance that overlooks the park's water basin.
For the past three decades, patrons have entered the museum through an underground parking garage that was developed to reclaim the expansive front lawn. However, the museum now plans to enhance accessibility by constructing an above-ground portico Welcome Hall measuring 458 feet in length and 30 feet in height. This new entrance will be linked to the museum by a 124-foot glass walkway that will cut through the center of the historic outside staircase, while preserving the surrounding stairs and some of the original limestone cladding.
The design, created by the New York-based architectural firm RAMSA, founded by the late Robert A.M. Stern, has been met with mixed reactions. The museum stated that the intention behind the Welcome Hall is to provide a more accessible and enjoyable experience for guests, creating a straightforward path into the building that emphasizes the historic facade as part of the arrival experience. In a bid to ensure a well-rounded project, the museum claims to have engaged extensively with community members, accessibility advocates, and historic preservation groups.
Despite these efforts, prominent critics have voiced their disapproval. Lee Bey, an architecture critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, described the design as “ungainly and unattractive,” suggesting that it overpowers the historic entrance and resembles a “carbuncle.” Similarly, Tim Samuelson, the city’s cultural historian emeritus, criticized the project as “damaging” and lacking respect for the classical masterpiece, arguing that all elements must maintain a precise relationship to the whole.
In response to the criticism, the museum has not issued any comments. However, support for the project has emerged from notable figures in the field of classical architecture. Kendra Parzen, director of preservation services at Landmarks Illinois, expressed her organization’s support for the scheme, although they did not have an official role in the design process. Parzen remarked that historically, visitors have not engaged with the main entrance, and the new portico aims to reintroduce the experience of entering the building, which has been absent for decades.
She underscored the Griffin Museum’s status as one of Chicago’s most iconic historic buildings, suggesting that the emotional attachment to the institution is why the changes have provoked such strong reactions. Parzen highlighted the significance of the approach from Lakeshore Drive, where the building stands majestically over the north lawn, as an iconic experience in Chicago. Despite the criticism, she believes the new plan achieves a balance between historic sensitivity and the need to open new areas of the museum to the public, refocusing the entry experience for the better.

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