Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility

Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility, Entry, US Security Architecture Image

Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility, USA

New Public Entrance Building in District of Columbia design by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners (BBB), United States

Nov 12, 2019

Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility Building

Architects: Beyer Blinder Belle

Location: Washington, D.C., USA

Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility
photograph : Alan Karchmer, courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle

Washington Monument Visitor Facility

“It was the most daunting design challenge of my career,” admits Hany Hassan, partner and director of the Washington, D.C. office of architecture firm Beyer Blinder Belle, who led this monumental project.

The project: The Washington Monument’s new $10.7 million visitor screening facility that now sits at the base of the iconic stone obelisk erected in 1888.

Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility
photograph : Alan Karchmer, courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle

In 2010, the National Park Service (NPS) tasked BBB with designing the Monument’s entrance and security facility for one million visitors each year. This addition would fundamentally change one the nation’s most prominent landmarks, both visually and experientially. The building had to be proportionately right, up close and at a distance, and it had to provide the public with a dignified and welcoming entry while revealing virtually nothing of its high security system.

Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility
photo : Alan Karchmer, courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle

Working in collaboration with the National Park Service, preservation stakeholders, federal and state agencies, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, BBB’s design process generated more than 100 options – finally arriving at the elegantly-scaled glass and steel pavilion that opened to the public in September

Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility
photo : Alan Karchmer, courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle

From an architectural standpoint, the pavilion’s simplicity complements the Monument’s pure form and respects the historic fabric of the National Mall. As visitors approach the site, they are drawn into an open, airy, and transparent space that affords them thrilling views up the 555-foot tower before making their way to its top.

Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility design by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners
photo : Alan Karchmer, courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle

Mr. Hassan’s expertise spans architectural and urban design for new construction and the renovation of historic structures, evident by his other area projects for The Smithsonian Institution, The Historic D.C. Courthouse, the restoration of the Carnegie Library, preservation and restoration of the Planet Word Museum, the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse, 410 E Street, expansion of the Arlington National Cemetery, involvement in the Capitol Crossing megaproject, and more.

Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility USA by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners
photo : Alan Karchmer, courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle

Previously on e-architect:

Sep 19, 2019

Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility, Washington, D.C.

Design: Beyer Blinder Belle, Architects

Location: Washington, D.C., USA

Washington Monument Welcomes Back Visitors Through New Beyer Blinder Belle-Designed Facility

Merging state-of-the-art security with contemporary aesthetics and a respect for the historic fabric of the National Mall, the new entrance facility enhances the visitor experience at one of the nation’s most significant sites.

WASHINGTON, D.C. September 19, 2019 —Following a three-year construction period, the Washington Monument reopens to the public on September 19, with a new visitor entrance designed by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners (BBB).

Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility building:
Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility building
photo : Alan Karchmer

“Our goal was to create a new welcoming entrance and a dignified portal to one of our nation’s most iconic structures. The new entrance pavilion will accommodate enhanced security protocols while streamlining the flow of visitors and complementing the overall experience of the Monument,” said Hany Hassan, FAIA, partner in charge of BBB’s Washington, D.C. office.

The new structure replaces a temporary facility that had been installed in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

BBB’s contemporary facility simultaneously meets long-term security, preservation, and operational requirements. It utilizes a geothermal heating and cooling system to minimize the visual presence of equipment. As a result, the glazed and transparent envelope affords views of the 555-foot-tall obelisk.

The complex, sensitive project required extensive coordination with a wide variety of organizations. In collaboration with the National Park Service, BBB engaged with numerous preservation stakeholders, members of the public, and federal and state agencies, including the National Capitol Planning Commission, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the D.C. Historic Preservation Officer (State Historic Preservation Office), and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

About Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners
Founded in 1968, Beyer Blinder Belle (BBB) has offices in Washington, DC; New York City and Boston. Planning, restoration, and the design of new buildings are the fundamental underpinnings of the practice.

A persistent exploration of historic, cultural, and civic meaning guides the firm’s work, while its design is contemporary and reflects the materials and technologies of today. BBB’s work has been recognized with hundreds of awards, including the American Institute of Architects Firm Award, the highest honor given to a practicing firm, as well as three Presidential Design Awards and the Preservation League of New York’s most prestigious commendation, the Pillar Award. www.beyerblinderbelle.com

Washington Monument Visitor Screening Facility, Washington, D.C. images / information courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle, Architects

Beyer Blinder Belle

Location: Washington, D.C., USA

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