National Museum of Women in the Arts
Image Credit: Sandra Vicchio & Associates, LLC. with Marshall Craft Associates, Inc.
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Project Information
The National Museum of Women in Arts (NMWA) is the world's first museum solely dedicated to championing women artists. Located on New York Ave. in Washington, DC, in a building originally designed by architect Waddy Butler Wood, of Wood, Donn & Deming, the Classical Revival 1908 structure was built by the Masons. In 2015, Sandra Vicchio & Associates, LLC (SVA) began working on the renovation, which is the historic building's first full renovation since opening its doors in 1987.
The recently reopened NMWA project began with a facilities preservation plan, which was delivered in 2016 and refined in 2017. This plan became the basis for the renovation of this 93,400 SF landmark building. SVA’s design team completed construction documents in June 2021. The Board of Trustees approved the GMP in August 2021 and construction started in September and with completion in the Fall of 2023.
The $70 M project preserved the museum's historic facades and interior details while improving the interior spaces, building envelope, and infrastructure. SVA redesigned the gallery floors expanding gallery space by over 15%, allowing for the display of more art by women artists. The transformed galleries allow for the display of art in all formats in nearly every location. A new Learning Commons includes three gallery spaces, an education studio for workshops, and a research library. The Performance Hall features new seating, finishes, and theater systems along with an expanded stage and increased accessibility. Redesigned collections storage areas have provide better and more efficient space. The entire visitor experience is improved and enhanced from the glass entry doors, into the new lobby where visitors see art immediately, and continues throughout the building. New passenger elevators and lobbies at the ground and mezzanine levels provide accessibility to all floors. The renovation enables NMWA to achieve its goal of championing women in the arts better.
More information can be found on NMWA’s website: https://nmwa.org/support/nmwa-campaign/building-renovation/
Project Team
- Owner: National Museum of Women in the Arts
- Prime & Design Architect: Sandra Vicchio & Associates, LLC
- Architect of Record: Marshall Craft Associates, Inc.
- Envelope/Structural Engineer: CVM
- M/E/P Engineers: Mueller Associates, Inc.
- Civil Engineer: RK&K, LLP
- Fire Protection/Code/Security Consultant: Jensen Hughes
- Acoustic/Theater Designer: Acoustic Design Collaborative, Ltd.
- Audio/Visual & Tele-Data: SpeXsys
- Lighting Designer: Flux Studio, Ltd.
- Elevator Consultant: Michael Blades & Associates, Ltd.
- Retail and Interior Design of Public Spaces: Eileen Ritter Associates, Inc.
- Collections Care Consultant: Wendy Jessup & Associates, Inc.
- Construction Manager: Grunley Construction