PROJECT White House Visitor Center Rehabilitation
LOCATION Washington, District of Columbia,
PROJECT COMPLETION DATE 9/5/2014
ARCHITECT SmithGroupJJR
ASSOCIATED ARCHITECT
OWNER/CLIENT White House Historical Association / John Riley
CONTRACTOR Clark Construction Group, LLC
PHOTOGRAPHER Maxwell MacKenzie; Mark Delsasso
DESIGN TEAM SmithGroupJJR: Troy Thompson – PIC; David Greenbaum – Design Principal; Jonathan Cantwell – Project Manager/Project Architect; Marcus Wilkes – Architect; Bettina Neudert-Brown – Designer; Doug Dahlkemper – Designer; Elsa Santoyo – Designer; Megan Chorley – Architect; Kristen Brittingham – Architect; Tom Faucette – Electrical Engineer; Katy Boat – Electrical Engineer; Alan Payne – Mechanical Engineer; Brian Coffield – Mechanical Engineer; Samantha Patke – Mechancial Engineer; Viral Amin – Fire Protection Engineer; Lokesh Nigam – Fire Protection Engineer Gallagher & Associates: Patrick Gallagher – President and Principal; Cybelle Jones – Creative Director/Senior Associate; Todd Alan Kinser – Senior Project Manager/Associate; Randy Anderson – Principal; Tamar King – Senior Exhibit Designer/Associate; Emily Furman – Senior Graphic Designer; Ja’Niene Mitchem – Designer SmithGroupJJR: Troy Thompson – PIC; David Greenbaum – Design Principal; Jonathan Cantwell – Project Manager/Project Architect; Marcus Wilkes – Architect; Bettina Neudert-Brown – Designer; Doug Dahlkemper – Designer; Elsa Santoyo – Designer; Megan Chorley – Architect; Kristen Brittingham – Architect; Tom Faucette – Electrical Engineer; Katy Boat – Electrical Engineer; Alan Payne – Mechanical Engineer; Brian Coffield – Mechanical Engineer; Samantha Patke – Mechancial Engineer; Viral Amin – Fire Protection Engineer; Lokesh Nigam – Fire Protection Engineer Gallagher & Associates: Patrick Gallagher – President and Principal; Cybelle Jones – Creative Director/Senior Associate; Todd Alan Kinser – Senior Project Manager/Associate; Randy Anderson – Principal; Tamar King – Senior Exhibit Designer/Associate; Emily Furman – Senior Graphic Designer; Ja’Niene Mitchem – Designer
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT:
The White House Visitor Center, operated by the National Park Service in conjunction with the White House Historical Association, is located in historic Baldrige Hall within the 1932 U.S. Department of Commerce building. The design team’s goal for the renovation was to create opportunities for children and families to connect to the history of the White House as a home, office, museum, and stage for ceremony. Improvements to the visitor center include new interactive interpretive exhibits, a theater with an introductory film, a permanent museum gallery, a temporary exhibit area, a retail shop, and visitor information facilities. The strong character of Baldrige Hall required that any interventions in the space respect and remain independent from the historic fabric. To this end, the architecture and exhibits became interwoven, utilizing freestanding casework and theater walls that supported exhibit and retail activity. This seamless integration of architecture and exhibits within the distinct character of the room creates a dialog between old and new, a respect and sympathy for the past while embracing the present. The design team sought to preserve the strength and natural beauty inherent in the room by maintaining the natural light coming from both sides of the main axis. The lightness of the new, white materials contrasts with the classicism of the room while making reference to the White House itself. The glass and steel entry vestibule serves to protect the interior conditioning necessary to maintain the historic fabric while minimizing visual impact on the historic space.
IMAGE CAPTIONS & CREDITS
IMAGE 1 1700 New York Avenue_high res ext.jpg Intersection of historic building and new addition © Mark Delsasso
IMAGE 2 1700 New York Avenue_high res int.jpg Entry lobby at new addition © Mark Delsasso
IMAGE 3 1700 New York Avenue 3.jpg View from the Washington Monument © Mark Delsasso
IMAGE 4 1700 New York Avenue 4.jpg View from intersection of 17th St and New York Avenue © Mark Delsasso
IMAGE 5 1700 New York Avenue 5.jpg Detail at entry to new addition © Maxwell MacKenzie
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MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF
White House Visitor Center Rehabilitation
Category
AIA Maryland > Institutional Architecture (AIA Maryland)
Winner Status
- Honor Award
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