THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 17, 1996 TAG: 9610170335
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HATTERAS VILLAGE LENGTH: 49 lines
The $4.5 million Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum will be built to withstand the hammering of the most fierce hurricanes, the storms that have sent hundreds of ships to the bottom.
The 18,766-square-foot structure will be located next to the Hatteras Inlet Ferry Terminal, and is expected to open in 1998.
The Wrightsville Beach firm of Synthesis Inc. Architects and Planners designed the facility with a nautical flair.
``The board reviewed plans from several architects from North Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey,'' said Joseph K. Schwarzer, executive director of the museum. ``The firm we selected had a real understanding of what's needed in a museum, and what's needed in terms of the unique building requirements of structures on the Outer Banks.''
The design incorporates large wooden beams and wooden ceilings, porthole windows and curved roofs. The structure, located in the heart of the hurricane belt, will be made to withstand strong storms.
``In the event of a storm, it would be impossible to move a museum's collection,'' Schwarzer said. ``The main exhibition of area is designed to withstand winds of 200 miles per hour.''
The plans, unveiled Wednesday night, also allow for additional space in the event of future expansion, Schwarzer said.
The nonprofit museum is designed to tell the story of Outer Banks maritime history and its role in the development of American transportation and commerce.
The facility will also recount the part the coastal waters played in foreign and civil wars, and will tell the history of many of the more than 1,000 ships that sank or were sunk since 1524.
The museum is being built as part of a cooperative venture with the National Park Service and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
Architect John Parker of Synthesis called the museum ``one of my most successful designs. And I've been particularly impressed by the way the board and the museum's director have proceeded with the development of the design, always keeping in mind their commitment to the people and the story of Cape Hatteras.''
Organizers hope the museum will be open in time for the 1998 vacation season.
``But it depends on the weather, how quickly we can select a contractor, get materials delivered and all of those things,'' Schwarzer said. by CNB