The Arts and Industries Building — Historic Renovation

Project Details

Owner: Smithsonian Institution
Contract Amount: $3,487,749
Date of Award: December 1973

Photo

A landmark structure of red brick and Ohio sandstone, the Arts and Industries Building (originally known as the U.S. National Museum) was designed in a High Victorian style. Opened in 1881 the building was constructed to exhibit materials acquired from the nation's Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. Grunley restored the museum to its original appearance for the nation's bicentennial. At the same time the vacated exhibition space was converted to administrative space, new floors were inserted for additional offices to accommodate growing outreach programs. While changes were made to accommodate the museum's new role, the remaining four halls and rotunda were carefully restored in order to give visitors a glimpse of the building's Victorian appearance. This work included the recreation of geometric stencils from the original patterns in rich Victorian colors of yellow, red, green, and blue on the rotunda and hall spandrel. This project earned an award of excellence from The American Institute of Architects in 1976.