Smithsonian American Art Museum
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Fitting like a cap, the roof modernises the museum
Enclosure of the existing central courtyard, transforming the galleries and creating a large event space in Washington DC
The enclosed courtyard acts as the central circulation space for the building - visitors can enter the surrounding galleries from here, and out of museum hours the space regularly hosts a variety of social events, including concerts and public performances.
The fluid-form, fully glazed roof canopy develops structural and environmental themes first explored in the design of the roof of the Great Court at the British Museum, bathing the courtyard with natural light.
The roof structure is composed of three interconnected vaults. The double-glazed panels are set within a diagrid of fins, clad in acoustic material, which together form a rigid shell that needs to be supported by only eight columns. Visually, the roof is raised above the walls of the existing building, helping to articulate the new from the old. Seen illuminated at night, this canopy appears to float, symbolising the cultural importance of the Smithsonian Institution.
Data
- Begun: 2004
- Completed: 2007
- Floor area: 8,500m2
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £20M
- Address: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington DC, 20013-7012, United States
Professional Team 
- Architect: Foster + Partners
- Project architect: Dan Sibert
- Client: Smithsonian Institution
- Structural engineer: Fulcrum Consulting/ WW
- Facade engineer: Fulcrum Consulting/ WW
- Roofing contractor: Josef Gartner
- Architectural Consultant: Smith Group Inc.
- Landscape consultant: Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd
- Lighting design: George Sexton Associates
- Environmental consultant: Battle McCarthy
- Acoustics: Sandy Brown Associates
- Deformation analysis: Weidlinger Associates
- M&E consultant: URS Corporation
- General Contractor: Hensel Phelps