Smithsonian Institution Patent Office Building
1 / Introduction
The Smithsonian Institution occupies the former United States Patent Building, the finest example of Greek revival architecture in the US. The building, once slated for demolition in 1958, is now designated as a national historical landmark. Rescued by President Eisenhower and transferred to the Smithsonian Institution, the building now serves as the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Buro Happold provided structural and facade engineering services for the fully glazed canopy enclosing the Kogod Courtyard in the Old Patent Building. The elegant triple wave design feature was created with steel girders set on a diagonal grid, covering an area of 80m x 40m. The steel, aluminum, and glass canopy maximizes the natural light entering the courtyard, while the design incorporates appropriate environmental and acoustic controls; additionally, a key feature of the canopy is the inclusion of sufficient acoustic cladding which reduces reverberation to an acceptable level for musical performances.
Without resorting to secondary glazing bars, Buro Happold engineered strong continuous steel support frames to support glazing and resiliency to blast loading; furthermore, redundancies were placed for roof stability in the event of a natural disaster or other structural compromises.
Completed in 2007, the Kogod Courtyard at the Smithsonian Institution Patent Office Building is a leading example of our continuous search to strive for beauty in design and functionality of space.
Key facts
- Fully glazed canopy
- Design incorporates acoustic controls
Related Disciplines
The Project Details
Client: Smithsonian Institution
Architect: Foster + Partners
Buro Happold services: Structural Engineering, Facades Engineering