I N F O R M A T I O N

Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. / Foster + Partners

Foster and Partners created a 28,000 SF modern enclosure that rests on the historic Smithsonian Institution. 

Partners, F. (2024). unamed. photograph, Washington, DC. 

         The Smithsonian Institution was formerly known as the Patent Building, built between 1836 and 1867, today classified as a National Historic Landmark for its Greek Revival architecture. Once housing U.S federal government buildings, today it houses the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. In efforts to transform the courtyard to serve as a large event space, Foster and Partners redesigned the grand courtyard into an enclosed social gathering space that allows visitors to enter galleries and attend social events all under one roof.

Burry, J., & Burry, M. (2012). The New Mathematics of Architecture. Thames & Hudson.pg127

Foster and Partners designed a glazed roof that would rest on eight supporting columns, standing alone from the pre-existing sandstone and granite walls of the historic building. The glazed roof design originated from the idea of creating an undulating surface about three continuous domed areas that responded to acoustic and solar considerations. Initially, they proposed a diagonal grid that was composed of steel fins that would twist with the domed areas to provide optimal lighting conditions for the courtyard underneath. The twisting of the fins gradually would become flush with the glazed surfaces that are close to the columns to respect the integrity of the structural forces supporting the canopy above the museum.

Burry, J., & Burry, M. (2012). The New Mathematics of Architecture. Thames & Hudson.pg128

Ultimately the changing twisting of the fins retained a subtle change across the domes that transitioned throughout the domes. In response to the solar considerations, a glass coating shifted the light permeating the glazing, allowing selective lighting to enter from the sky above, further reinforcing the idea of the quadrilateral glazing panel resting on a diagonal grid. The eight columns used to support the canopy remained at the lowest points of the domes to serve a dual purpose of structure and a rainwater collection point. Furthermore, Foster and Partners designed the canopy with a "manual" manipulation of the roof shape that allowed them to test a variety of versions to find the best range for performance. This constraint decision allowed them to make controlled geometries with the help of computer modeling programs.

Burry, J., & Burry, M. (2012). The New Mathematics of Architecture. Thames & Hudson.pg128

Prokos, A. (2024). KOGOD COURTYARD INTERIOR. photograph, Washington D.C.