Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait
Gallery
Old Patent Office Building
Washington, DC
Client:
Hartman-Cox Architects
Services Provided:
Environmental subsurface investigation
The Old Patent Office Building, home to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery is undergoing a major renovation. The building was constructed between 1836 and 1867, and is Washington’s third oldest federal building. The renovations include the addition of a 346-seat underground auditorium with lobby, a conservation lab and art storage area that are visible to the public, a café, and museum store. Additional upgrades include the replacement of over 500 windows, new passenger elevators, new lighting in the gallery areas, and the cleaning and repairing of the stone facades. The area of the existing courtyard is being excavated for the auditorium. The purpose of GeoConcept’s study was to investigate the possible presence of contaminants within the subsurface to aid in protecting worker’s safety during the excavation and to determine if special disposal options were required for the approximately 30,000 cubic yards of excavated soil.
