The Smithsonian Institution occupies the former United States Patent Building, the finest example of Greek revival architecture in the US. Now designated as a national historical landmark, the building was rescued from demolition in 1958 by President Eisenhower who transferred it to the Smithsonian Institution for use as the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

The project to construct a fully glazed canopy to enclose the Kogod Courtyard in the Old Patent Building saw Buro Happold working to further develop the structural themes first explored on the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court at the British Museum. The enclosed courtyard is an integral part of the building’s long term renovation programme and will provide a flexible space to host a variety of functions, such as concerts.

An elegant triple wave design feature, and was created with steel girders set on a diagonal grid, covering an area of 80m x 40m. The steel, aluminium and glass canopy maximises the natural light entering the courtyard, while the design incorporates appropriate environmental and acoustic controls. A key feature of the roof is the inclusion of sufficient acoustic cladding to reduce reverberation to a level acceptable for musical performances. The design also had to include the capability to withstand earthquakes and blast loads.