SAAM :: Renovation

New Public Spaces

Renovation of a Glorious Landmark Building
Lunder Conservation Center
Luce Foundation Center for American Art
Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium
Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard

Historic Landmark Building

Architectural Chronology of the Museum Building
History of the Museum Building
Temple of Invention: History of a National Landmark

Renovation of a Glorious Landmark Building

The National Historic Landmark building that houses the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery is a dazzling showcase for American art and portraiture that celebrates the vision and creativity of Americans. The museums are the centerpiece of a revitalized downtown Washington, D.C. with a shared main entrance at 8th and F Streets, on the south side of the building. The recent renovation (2000-2006) revealed the full magnificence of the building's exceptional architectural features, such as the porticos modeled after the Parthenon in Athens, a curving double staircase, colonnades, vaulted galleries, large windows, and skylights as long as a city block. Full circulation on all three floors for the public has been restored. Extraordinary effort was made to use new preservation technologies to restore the historic fabric of the building and re-use historic materials.

A 19th-century Landmark with 21st-century Enhancements

Two innovative and bold new public spaces are open to museum visitors-the Lunder Conservation Center and the Luce Foundation Center for American Art. In addition, the Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium and the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard are major enhancements that make this a destination museum for the 21st century.

Lunder Conservation Center

The Lunder Conservation Center is the first art conservation facility that allows the public permanent behind-the-scenes views of essential preservation work. Conservation staff for both the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery are visible to the public through floor-to-ceiling glass walls that allow visitors to see firsthand all the techniques that conservators use to examine, treat and preserve artworks. The center has five state-of-the-art laboratories and studios equipped to treat paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, sculptures, folk art objects, contemporary crafts, decorative arts and frames. In addition to providing expanded space for conservation projects, the center is a destination for learning about conservation science and techniques through educational kiosks, videos, public programs and outreach initiatives. More than 35 conservators from across the country participated in creating these educational components. A 40-foot media wall on the 4th floor features interviews with many of these experts.

Luce Foundation Center for American Art

The Smithsonian American Art Museum's Luce Foundation Center for American Art is the first visible art storage and study center in Washington. The new Luce Foundation Center features more than 3,300 objects in secure glass cases which quadruples the number of artworks from the permanent collection on public view. The center features paintings densely hung on screens, sculptures, crafts and folk art objects arranged on shelves, and miniatures and medals in drawers that open. Large-scale sculptures are installed on the first floor of the center. Interactive computer kiosks provide the public with information on every object in the center, including a discussion of each artwork, artist biographies, audio interviews, video clips and still images.

Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium

The Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery share the Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium, a new 346-seat facility located on the building's lower level. Upcoming public programming includes lectures and films as well as music, theater and dance performances. The auditorium is fully accessible from the lobby of the G Street entrance for after-hours events and performances. For information on upcoming programs, visit our calendar.

Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard

Photo by Tim Hursley.

The new Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard, with its elegant glass canopy, was designed by the world-renowned architectural firm Foster + Partners. It is a signature element of the renovated National Historic Landmark building that houses the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. The enclosed courtyard provides a distinctive, contemporary accent to the museums' Greek Revival building.At 28,000 square feet, the courtyard is one of the largest public event spaces in Washington. The interior features a variety of plantings, including two 32-foot high ficus trees and 16 black olive trees which sit in white marble planters on a black granite floor. Foster + Partners worked closely with acclaimed landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson on the design of the interior which includes four of her signature water scrims.Free public wireless Internet access (Wi-Fi) is available in the courtyard. The Courtyard Cafe offers casual dining from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Pictured top: Shared main entrance for Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery at 8th and F Streets, N.W. in Washington D.C. Ken Rahaim, Smithsonian Institution

Pictured second: Painting Conservation Studio in the Lunder Conservation Center. Carl Hansen, Smithsonian Institution

Pictured third: Third floor mezzanine of the Luce Foundation Center for American Art. © Tim Hursley

Pictured bottom: The new Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard at dusk.