Dome Renovations Force Detroit’s Belle Isle Conservatory to Close Until 2024
The next phase of renovations on Detroit's Belle Isle conservatory is set to get underway soon. Unfortunately, this will shut down access to the dome for well over a year.
The $10 million renovations have been ongoing for some time. The first phase was completed in 2019. During that phase, workers replaced the 20 original steel beams for the ceiling.
When Will the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle Close
The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle will close starting on November 14. The conservatory will remain closed until May 2024. However, the outdoor gardens that are surrounding the dome will reopen in May of 2023.
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Amanda Treadwell, urban field planner for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division:
Major renovations are needed to stabilize the building to keep the conservatory open for the next century. Although construction will temporarily close this popular attraction, the scope of work is critical to the structural integrity of the dome, public safety, and improved conditions for the plant collection.
According to MLive, The renovations are being paid for by $7.5 million of federal relief funding from the $250 million federal relief package made available to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Besides the recent renovations in 2019, there has not been a major capital investment to the conservatory since the 1950s. The goal with this project is to address the scope of work currently identified, ensure efficiencies in construction staging and eliminate the need to close the Palm House in the future.
Over $2 million in private donations will also be used for the renovation project.