Smithsonian American Art Museum

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.