Smithsonian Building Castle Floor Space

The castle was the first smithsonian building designed by architect james renwick jr whose other works include st.

Smithsonian building castle floor space. The towered neo gothic structure designed by up and coming new york city architect james renwick initially held the entire institution. Its first building the distinctive red maryland sandstone smithsonian castle was completed in 1855. Until 1881 it housed all aspects of smithsonian operations including research administration lecture and exhibit halls library laboratories collections storage and living quarters for the secretary. Which has been altered by partitions that cut its floor space almost in half and the addition of a two level underground space.

The centerpiece of the south mall master plan is the revitalization of the iconic smithsonian castle. A gallery a natural history collection a laboratory and even the first secretary of the organization. James renwick jr began his design of the smithsonian institution building with a gothic castle and eventually reworked it into a romanesque castle. The upper great hall will similarly be restored to grandeur through the removal of a modern inserted floor level relocation of administrative office space and the careful insertion of new infrastructure to create flexible spaces.

As such it makes a great starting point for your journey here you can get a grasp of the scope and scale of the smithsonian see collections highlights from each of our museums tour the castle s 19th century architecture see what s going on today at all the museums and consult. The building committee held a nationwide design competition in 1846 and selected renwick s design by a unanimous vote. The smithsonian institution building more commonly known as the castle was designed by james renwick jr. Floor plan of smithsonian institution building as published in hints on public architecture by robert dale owen.

The smithsonian institution building popularly known as the castle was designed by architect james renwick jr the building is constructed of red sandstone from seneca creek maryland in the norman style a 12th century combination of late romanesque and early gothic motifs. In a romanesque revival style and constructed from1847 to 1855. Patrick s cathedral in new york city and the smithsonian s renwick gallery also in washington d c. The exterior of the facade is composed of red sandstone which was quarried in montgomery county maryland.

The smithsonian institution s first building the castle was designed by architect james renwick. Completed in 1855 the castle is our signature building and home to the smithsonian visitor center. This later scheme won him the competition in 1846 to appoint an architect for the design of the smithsonian s first building. Today the castle houses administrative offices and the smithsonian.

Contained within smithsonian institution archives record unit 92.