National Museum of the American Indian
The design and construction of the 260,000-square-foot Smithsonian - National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) involved Native Americans representing various tribes. Our tour sponsor, the SmithGroup, was the Architectural firm contracted to redesign the original plan. They developed a total new design for the interior and structure, yet maintained the integrity of the original architect's exterior design.
The museum's architecture and landscape design utilizes a natural approach representing the Native environment indigenous to the site's location in the DC area. The cultural diversity of the Native experience is inherent in design. The museum represents a convergence of the human experience and nature. Throughout the structure will be references to the elements of the world: earth, air, water, and fire and the four cardinal directions.
The exterior of the building will be constructed of a limestone called Kasota stone. Each piece of Kasota stone will vary in size, coursing, and surface treatment. The building is being constructed in the round with undulating curves and deep window ledges similar to a cave or mountain of rock weathered over time by the elements.
Much of the food to be sold in the cafeteria will be grown on the grounds. The landscape surrounding the building exterior will be wetlands, meadowlands, and a hardwood forest. An impressive waterfall will cascade over the building, flow under a bridge and re-circulate via an impressive pump system.
The NAMI tour started at the building exterior where a full scale mock-up of the limestone surface treatment stood. We continued through a massive underground parking area. Semi-trucks making deliveries will be able to drive into the core of that parking area and turn around after unloading their deliveries at the enclosed dock.
A stairway in the center of building led us to the second floor and views where our guide pointed out inspirational moments of reflection are anticipated by the visitor to NMAI. From there we moved to the center of the building where a dome designed to host major events and daily celebrations opened to the sky. (contributed by Meshella Woods-Johnson)
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