Construction is now underway on the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry’s South Portico, a transformative project that reopens the museum's original southern entrance for the first time in more than a century. The project creates a more welcoming and accessible visitor experience while strengthening the museum's connection to surrounding South Side communities.
The Foundation’s $10 million gift reflects a rare opportunity to preserve and reactivate an important piece of Chicago's architectural heritage while investing in a renowned civic and cultural institution on the South Side, where our founder Richard H. Driehaus was born and raised.
"We saw this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reopen the original southern entrance and preserve it as a public space, revitalizing an important piece of Chicago's vibrant architectural history," shared Cynthia Van Osdol, President and CEO of Driehaus Trust Company, during the October 13, 2026, groundbreaking ceremony.
When completed, the restored South Portico will serve as an accessible entrance and free gathering space, reconnecting the museum to Jackson Park and becoming a more welcoming gateway to a cultural landmark that has long served residents, families, students, and visitors from across the city.
Learn more about the project through coverage by Block Club Chicago, ABC 7, and CBS News.
