The site's development needed the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and was ultimately finished in 1995 at a cost of PS12 million (raised wholly by the community). A number of media and organizations have subsequently recognized it as one of the most magnificent and culturally significant structures in the UK. It has been listed as a record breaker for its use of timber, with over 17,000 sq m (180,000 sq ft) of wood being employed in its construction.
Neasden Temple is an eclectic mix of styles, but it can be described as Russian Orthodox in inspiration and technique. The main structure is built around a central tower which reaches a height of 72 meters (236 feet). Four smaller towers surround the main one, each about 30 meters high. There are more than 100 windows across the building opening up into light-filled spaces.
The interior of the temple is equally impressive with a series of large rooms opening up onto small courtyards. It is here that you will find many of the temple's key features including working chandeliers, mosaics and painted ceilings.
Neasden Temple is certainly not just another church for Londoners to go to; rather it is an attraction in itself. With its unique history and design pedigree it is easy to see why so many people are fascinated by this temple within London's city limits.
When finished in August 2004, the project cost around PS414 million, compared to an initial estimate of PS50. This is 42 months after the intended completion date. There were several explanations for the Scottish Parliament Building Project's cost overrun. One factor was that the architects' original design required more concrete than expected, which increased the price per square metre. Another reason was that the builders' union insisted on including water-saving measures in the contract, which added to the overall bill.
In October 2005, it was reported that the final cost of the Scottish Parliament building had risen to PS514 million, with construction costs now estimated at around PS150 million over budget and 18 months late. The main reason given was that the building was not finished in time for the inaugural session in December 2005. It was also said that pressure from politicians and the public to finish the building before the end of the first legislative term in 2008 has led to changes being made directly to the contract without going through the normal planning process. For example, an external wall has been added at a cost of about PS20 million extra to provide more space for offices.
The final cost of the building was confirmed in February 2006 when it was announced that taxpayers would have to pay an additional PS60 million because of changes made to the contract without consulting parliament. The total cost of the project will be around PS666 million, almost double the original estimate of PS354 million.
The museum, which descends into the bedrock beneath ground zero, and a street-level memorial plaza with a pair of waterfalls, which opened to the public in 2011, cost more than $700 million to build, a massive sum covered by government agencies and private donations, including $15 million from former First Lady Michelle Obama.
The memorial's total price tag is estimated at between $70 and 100 million. The figure includes costs such as construction of the foundation walls and ceilings, which are made up of 2,749 concrete panels that weigh nearly two million pounds each—the same amount as the World Trade Center towers combined. The panels were manufactured in France and Germany and then trucked to New York City for installation.
Some observers have questioned whether the money would be better spent helping small businesses recover from the economic impact of terrorism or providing health care for first responders and survivors of the attacks. But others see it as an important tribute to the thousands who died in the 2001 attacks and a valuable teaching tool for future generations of terrorists.
A group of conservative Republicans in Congress has also criticized the project for what they call its excessive cost and lack of transparency. In July 2017, Representative Peter King of New York proposed terminating federal funding for the memorial if President Trump's budget was approved. However, the proposal did not advance beyond congressional debate ritual.
The overall cost of the building's construction and display installations is $540 million. The Smithsonian Institution and the federal government both contributed to this sum. The building was designed by British architect Sir Norman Foster and constructed by the Washington Building Center.
Its 9,000 square feet (900 m²) of floor space include a grand atrium filled with sunlight from high-powered glass walls that open during the day for natural light and close at night to preserve museum security and exhibit integrity. The museum also uses energy-efficient lighting and heating/cooling systems.
The building was completed in 2004 after more than five years of planning and development. It replaced the original 1975 National Museum of American History, which was then considered to be too small to accommodate all of the museum's collections-related activities.
The new museum has 22 exhibition halls, three theaters, and two rooftop gardens. It covers 70,000 square feet (6,500 m²) of gallery space, making it the largest museum in America. The new facility includes more than 400 objects or sites being displayed during its opening year of 2005. These include items such as George Washington's sword and gun carriage, Harriet Tubman's horse, and an early American schoolhouse.
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