Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey, says it will build a 30,000-square-foot facility to house The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music.
The university says the building will house the Archives, the Center for American Music, related exhibition galleries, and a 230-seat, state-of-the-art theater. It will be constructed on the campus of Monmouth University, not far from where Springsteen wrote his landmark song, “Born to Run,” nearly 50 years ago.
A campaign to raise the $45 million to construct the new building is underway. The anticipated opening date is spring 2026.
“Monmouth University is excited to enrich our campus with a new home for one of the country’s premier cultural and educational institutions dedicated to preserving the legacy of Bruce Springsteen and the story of American music,” said Monmouth University President and Chair of the Archives Board Patrick F. Leahy.
The Center for American Music will feature exhibits on Springsteen and showcase diverse topics and themes in American music. The Archives will offer visitors the chance to listen to oral histories and interviews, watch rare film footage, and explore major moments in music history.
Concerts, teacher workshops, symposia, lectures, film series, and other public and educational programs will also be part of the mission of the Archives and Center for American Music.
“Our institution will offer exciting research opportunities for students, journalists, and historians and give Springsteen fans the chance to explore his music and the role it plays in American history like never before,” added Robert Santelli, executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music.
The architect is COOKFOX Architects.