ET135b – Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Revitalization, Phase 1

Additional fee, registration required.

Witness the redesign process of an iconic museum that retains the building's important character-defining aspects.

This tour will illuminate the details behind the renovation of Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, one of the world's most popular museums. You'll learn how sustainability goals presented special challenges due to the building's monumental spaces, the quantity of glazing, and the need to provide proper environmental conditions for some of the nation's most treasured artifacts.

Join us to experience completed sections of the project—and get a sneak peak of the construction process viewed from outside the construction site.

This is a metro tour.

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss the design challenges faced when an iconic building on the National Mall is renovated.
2. Examine some of the challenges museum buildings present for sustainability and see the specific challenges encountered in designing the renovation of the National Air and Space Museum.
3. Review design strategies and tools used to optimize daylighting.
4. Consider the design strategies employed to bring a 1970s iconic building up to 2020 performance standards.

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