Overview

Smithsonian Institution at Capital Gallery

Smithsonian Institution

Known as the largest museum and research organization in the world, including 19 museums, nine research centers and the National Zoo, the Smithsonian Institution faced a facilities dilemma. The Arts & Industries Building was home to world-renowned researchers, visiting scholars and historians in addition to fragile historic documents and artifacts, and several hundred of the Institution's employees worked in less-than-ideal conditions in the circa-1881 building. When the aged facility was scheduled to undergo substantial renovation, the staff had to be relocated to new offices. This created an opportunity to transform work environments for the Institution's cultural research and administrative functions.

 

The new offices are truly distinct. Weaving together conventional offices with a host of sophisticated lab and storage facilities, the design approach ties together diverse departments with a consistent expression. Flexibility allows for individual identity and accommodates the unique requirements of the disparate groups. The overall atmosphere is progressive, yet inviting -- a welcome environment for both employees and visitors and a safe haven for a number of the nation's most valuable documents.

 

Location

Washington, DC

 

Size

225,000 sf

 

Cost

Confidential


Industry


Specialized Service

Approach

Originally, the relocation project included design for three floors under a compressed 12-month schedule. Mid-stream during construction, Smithsonian decided to consolidate additional departments, leasing the remaining four floors at Capital Gallery and more than doubling the scope. Despite the additional work and impact on the program, the schedule remained virtually unaffected, adding minimal time to accommodate construction.

 

A total of 18 different Smithsonian divisions, varying in size and function, now occupy the building. A singular design concept was developed to reinforce connectivity, allowing tenants to display individual entries and identities. Each floor is densely packed with a mix of private offices, open workstations, meeting rooms and labs. Public areas are defined by glass panels in the elevator lobbies that feature a composition of Smithsonian photographic images representative of the floor occupants. Custom-designed reception desks are a repeating element throughout, while glass-enclosed conference rooms offer transparency and allow daylight to penetrate the space. Within the Archives spaces, extensive care was taken to ensure the highest level of security, temperature and humidity control for preservation of the extremely sensitive documents.

Recognition

  • Silver Award?Commercial (20,000-100,000 sf), International Interior Design Association (IIDA), Mid-Atlantic Chapter, 2009
  • Award of Honor for Interior Spaces, Inform, 2008

 

 

"Minimal Intervention", Inform, 2008, number 4