Paris’ Pompidou Center is opening its first North American branch. The location: Jersey City. Mayor Steven Fulop, Governor Phil Murphy, and Pompidou president Serge Lasvignes made the joint announcement Friday morning from the Pathside Building, future home of the Pompidou x Jersey City.
“The Centre Pompidou is the perfect partner to carry out our vision and solidify Journal Square as a regional anchor for the arts,” said Mayor Fulop. “When the Pathside building was slated for high-rise development, we saw a unique opportunity to change its trajectory to better serve the City as a museum and community center.”
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Located at 25 Journal Square, the Pathside building is a 58,000 square-foot structure built in 1912. The building was renovated in 1995 to house Hudson County Community College classes and a library. In 2017, the city purchased the property from HCCC for about $9 million. The plan was to bring the Jersey City museum there. Instead, the city is bringing one of Paris’ most popular cultural attractions.
Pompidou x Jersey City
The official name of the new satellite branch will be Pompidou x Jersey City. As part of the deal between Jersey City and the Pompidou Center, the city has agreed to pay for renovations of the Pathside building and to pay the cost of operating the museum.
The city will also pay the museum an annual fee that phases up to $6 million over the course of the contract, according to the New York Times. (Mayor Fulop estimates renovations to cost from $10 million to $30 million). This will cover the cost of branding, exhibition organization, and project development. The city expects to raise funds from the private sector and seek state subsidies to help pay for the costs.
The city’s contract with the Pompidou Center will last five years and begin in 2024 after construction at the site is finished. Afterward, there will be an option to extend the contract. Pompidou outposts in Málaga, Spain, and Shanghai, China, follow similar contracts.
The Pathside Building
The four-story Pathside Building was originally constructed as a PSE&G office building. It got its current name for its close proximity to the JSQ PATH station.
The building’s structure is ideal for creating open spaces that can be used as galleries. Historic elements of the Pathside Building will be preserved and restored to highlight the building’s past.
The Pompidou x Jersey City is one of many major projects planned for Journal Square. A renovated Loews Theater is also expected to open in 2025. The new theater will be operated by the city, the Devils Arena Entertainment (DAE), and Friends of the Loews.
