Monday, February 4, 2019
One of the newest additions to the National Mall in Washington, DC, is the much-celebrated Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum opened on September 24, 2016, with the intent of documenting African American life, history, and culture through approximately 33,000 artifacts. The project broke ground in 2012 with the goal of constructing a building on the Mall in recognition of the African-American community’s contribution to America.
The NMAAHC’s architect, David Adjaye, recently debuted his “Making Memory” exhibition at London’s Design Museum, where he showcases an intricate model of the museum alongside prototype facade panels that depict the intricate details of the structure’s corona panels. In addition, the American Institute of Architects named the NMAAHC the recipient for AIA’s 2019 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture. A nine-member jury selects submissions by analyzing design achievement, place and purpose, ecology, environmental sustainability, and history.
Enclos provided design-assist services for the NMAAHC and were instrumental in finding the right material and finish to achieve the corona panels’ desired look. The finished structure features 3,600 corona panels that consist of cast aluminum coated in a bronze-colored finish. For a more detailed description of Enclos’ involvement on the NMAAHC, click here.