Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Revitalize Building and Plaza

 

The Smithsonian Institution and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden are starting design on a new project titled HMSG: Revitalize Building and Plaza. This project will renovate the Hirshhorn to support current and future needs of the artists of our time. Design work will consider ways to upgrade infrastructure, accessibility and security, and expand and improve amenities, operational and programming space to enhance the visitor experience and to meet the needs of projected significant increases in visitation. This revitalization will ensure the highest standards in collection stewardship and museum operations. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is a contributing resource to the National Mall Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and this project is subject to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

The Smithsonian Institution will conduct a series of public meetings as design progresses concerning Section 106 consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Public Consultation Meeting Information
Consulting Parties Meeting #3 and NEPA Scoping
This meeting was held in two parts over Zoom Webinar:
May 21, 2024 – 9:00am-11:00am
May 22, 2024 – 2:00pm-4:00pm
Consulting Parties Meeting #2
December 14, 2023 
Consulting Parties Meeting #1
September 14, 2023

Project Goals
  1. Fulfill the Hirshhorn’s mandate to provide visitors with transformative experiences by expanding gallery spaces and improving technological capacities to support current and future needs of the artists of our time. 
  2. Improve accessibility and circulation for all users throughout the campus, entry sequences, and vertical transportation. 
  3. Expand and improve amenities, operational, and programming space to enhance the visitor experience and to meet the needs of projected significant increases in visitation and to ensure the highest standards in collection stewardship and museum operations. 
  4. Ensure the Hirshhorn campus’ code compliance and significantly improve its energy efficiency, sustainability, and resiliency to maximize protection of collections, occupant comfort and safety, operations, and performance. 
  5. Unify the Hirshhorn Building, Plaza, and Sculpture Garden as a campus that responds to the National Mall and larger Smithsonian context including landscape and the built environment. 
  6. Strengthen the physical security of the site perimeter and entrances appropriate to the Hirshhorn’s public prominence and location on the National Mall. 
  7. Respect the integral relationship between the Hirshhorn building and outdoor gallery spaces as an evolving platform for the presentation of modern and contemporary art.

Hirshhorn Plaza Significance Evaluation

Click here to view the report.

Sculpture Garden Revitalization

A Memorandum of Agreement for the Sculpture Garden Revitalization project was executed in November 2021. A record of the public consultation process can be found archived on the SI Architectural History and Historic Preservation website linked below.

Click here to view this record of Section 106 consultation.

HABS Photographs

Click here to view the 2022 HMSG HABS photos.

Please send general inquiries and public comments to the email address below:
preservation@si.edu

Please visit the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden website linked below for additional museum information:
www.hirshhorn.si.edu

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