The Lighting Practice is proud to have been part of the renovation team responsible for safety updates to the Statue of Liberty. We are thrilled to see this inspiring monument reopened to the general public especially after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. TLP worked with the team to illuminate the entrances, stairwells, and passageways throughout the State of Liberty while preserving the monument’s historic character.
Statue of Liberty in New York receives safety upgrades
Published: 08-Jul-2013
The Statue of Liberty National Monument on Liberty Island in New York Harbour, opened on 4 July 2013, after major safety upgrades following Hurricane Sandy.
New York State’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Monument was closed to the public in October 2011 to start the Life Safety Upgrades project.
On the 126th anniversary of its dedication, The Monument reopened on 28 October 2012, and closed again due to destruction wrought by Hurricane Sandy.
Under the direction of the National Park Service (NPS), the safety project involved replacement of elevators, improved visitor accessibility, and upgraded electrical, ventilation, fire protection and security systems of the Monument, whose golden torch rises 305 feet above ground level at its tip.
“A big challenge on this project was to make necessary upgrades so the Monument meets the needs of 21st century visitors and provides improved access for everyone.” said Atkins’ project director, Gary Self.
Self’s comment was illustrated with the fact that tor new stairs, excavation was carried out next to the walls of 1811 Fort Wood – the 11-pointed, star-shaped fort – that forms the base of the Monument’s massive pedestal.
The stairs were modified to showcase an exposed inside section of the Fort’s original wall.
The enhancement also includes new code-compliant external stairs for improved access and a new elevator in the Monument’s pedestal which provides wheelchair accessibility to the physically-challenged people to look into the interior structure of the copper-clad, 156-ton statue.
Other upgrades include improved visitor comfort and new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems.
British design and project management consultancy Atkins provided construction contract management and inspection services in collaboration with A.G. Consulting Engineering and Hunter Research.
The multidisciplinary project team assembled by the NPS also included Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC (architectural design and overall project management), Keast & Hood Co. (structural engineering) and The Lighting Practice (lighting design).
The Monument, the full name of which is Liberty Enlightening the World, is a symbol of freedom and democracy and was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the US.
Dedicated on 28 October 1886, it was designated as a National Monument in 1924, and attracts about 3.5 million people each year.