By Matt Schickling
Wire Staff Writer
The Harold F. Pitcairn Wings of Freedom aviation museum revealed renovation designs for the expansion of the facility on the former Willow Grove Naval Air Station along Route 611 in Horsham.
“The land is supposed to transfer from the federal government to Horsham,” Mark Hurwitz, vice president of the museum board of directors, said. “Once the land turns over, the Horsham plan calls for us to not only be a part of the plan, but also it extended our footprint so that we’d have about 14 acres.”
The renovation plans, designed by Godshall Kane O’Rourke (GKO) Architects in Ambler, call for a $24 million investment after the land is designated for the museum.
“It’s actually a vision for what the museum could be, and we’re expecting to realize that whole vision,” Hurwitz said. “We wanted to come up with a plan and start the major fundraising for that plan. It could take a year or another couple of years,” for the land to be transferred.
The new building would have the capacity to house full-size aircrafts now kept outside of the museum. There, the aircrafts are subject to the elements, degrading their quality over time.
Michael O’Rourke, principal architect for GKO, said this renovation would include a 33,500-square-foot addition to the building, which at present is about 5,500 square feet. This would allow for large-scale display of aircrafts, both on the ground and suspended in air in the open-floor, all-glass exhibit hall.
“What we’re looking to do is to make a destination-type aircraft museum,” O’Rourke said. “The plan is to target the budget dollars to the exhibit hall and use buildings on the site for back-of-the-house museums.”
The Willow Grove Naval Air Station closed in 2011. Since then, Horsham has planned to use the land for development of housing, shops and business, Hurwitz said.
“We were one element within that plan,” he added. “We wouldn’t be taking away from anything else, but for this kind of expansion, it’s going to take a major effort.”
Wings of Freedom made the announcement of the plans at a Sept. 12 golf outing in Blue Bell to benefit the museum. This event is held annually and provides the museum with a large percentage of its yearly funding.
Most of the donations go to operational costs, like heating, lighting and air conditioning. The museum is made functional by volunteer workers.
“While the Naval base was open, we were guests to the Navy, and we didn’t have those concerns,” Hurwitz said. “Now, we’re paying our own way.”
So, on top of keeping the museum open, they’re going to have to raise millions of dollars. Hurwitz mentioned reaching out for grants, donations and sponsors to get the job done.
“What we need beside the funding is more people who want to volunteer,” he said.
GKO is also looking into implementing green technology into the design. The renderings picture wind turbines for energy, and O’Rourke said the building would implement solar panels and green roofing.
They are also interested in using an exterior sun-shading system to limit the amount of ultraviolet light entering the museum. This would prevent damage to the aircrafts. The museum is envisioned to be a community center-type building with public facilities and meeting rooms. There will also be a memorial park dedicated to veterans.
“It should be a really good resource for the community itself,” O’Rourke said. “It’s amazing when a community gets energized for a project what they can do.”
For more information, visit www.wingsoffreedommuseum.org.
