ABC of Metro Washington & Virginia

National Museum of Women in the Arts Renovation and Restoration

Renovation and Restoration

Washington, DC

Story

The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) stands as a beacon of empowerment and inspiration, dedicated to championing women through the arts. Since first opening in 1987, NMWA has tirelessly advocated for the representation of women artists, striving to correct the gender imbalance prevalent in the art world. Storing approximately 5,500 pieces of art by more than 1,000 artists, their oldest piece of artwork dates to the 16th century, but the rich history does not stop there. The structure that houses the museum was first built in 1907 as a Masonic Temple. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites, the classical-revival style building is constructed of limestone and brick with classical pilasters and columns, terra cotta entablature, and a stamped metal cornice. In 1997, the four-story Elisabeth A. Kasser Wing was added to the building to the east and currently houses the gift shop, galleries, and Kasser Board Room. In 2021, Grunley was awarded a $52.4 million contract with NWMA to perform the first major renovation since the museum’s opening. The project encompassed the entirety of both buildings, totaling 92,000 SF. Grunley updated the museum’s lobby, reception, event spaces, collections storage, library, offices, traveling exhibition space, gallery space, educational/classroom center, gift shop, conference rooms, performance hall, and catering kitchen. All the MEP and fire life safety systems; environmental separation of a four-story connecting stair between galleries; art, archives, rare book storage and conservation spaces; and high-density filing, bringing the museum firmly into the 21st century while honoring its rich heritage. Throughout the project, Grunley’s team was faced with several challenges, primarily driven by unforeseen conditions. Initially, design documents indicated that only 25% of exterior wall plaster was slated for removal, but investigation revealed 95% delamination, requiring extensive abatement. Following abatement, the MEP systems did not align due to structural variations. To address these MEP challenges, Grunley deployed multiple coordination teams to work simultaneously and used advanced technologies such as point cloud scans and active coordination models to collaborate closely with the design team, facilitating timely and effective redesign efforts. Another challenge the team faced was the discovery that the terra cotta pieces at the cornice were entirely grouted into the exterior masonry wall which would require substantial demolition for removal. To address this challenge, the team decided to replicate the cornice using glass fiber reinforced concrete. On October 21, 2023, the National Museum of Women in the Arts reopened to the public with a two-day celebration that included remarks from Murial Bowser, Mayor of Washington, DC. The renovation of the museum means more than new galleries and shiny finishes, it creates a space to continue to inspire future generations of artists, curators, scholars, and art enthusiasts. The newly renovated museum provides a space for education, a place to showcase achievements, and provides opportunities for visitors to learn about women artists and their impact on art and society.

Facts

  • Location: Washington, DC
  • Postal code: 20005
  • Size: 78,801.0 SQ FT

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