Skanska USA, an arm of Sweden-based construction company Skanska, has secured a contract from The Franklin Institute for the development of $37.5 million Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The proposed facility will be a 53,000 square feet development which will house an education and conference center, a permanent exhibition entitled Your Brain, and a changing exhibition gallery. The exterior of the building will be enveloped in Indiana limestone as the original building. The project will also develop landscaped gardens that will mitigate stormwater drainage. The building will also feature a dramatic stainless steel kinetic “shimmer wall” developed by artist Ned Kahn.
The scheme has been designed by SaylorGregg Architects. The institute anticipates total design, construction and fit-out for the project will generate 150,000 hours of work and generate 125 construction, design and consulting related jobs in the region. Upon completion, the extension will create another 20 permanent jobs at The Franklin Institute.