The Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard, a signature element of the renovated Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, opens to the public Sunday, November 18. The building houses the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
The enclosed courtyard with its elegant glass canopy designed by world renowned architects Foster + Partners provides a distinctive, contemporary accent to the museums' Greek Revival building. Internationally acclaimed landscape designer Kathryn Gustafson of Seattle-based Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd. assisted Foster + Partners in the creation of the courtyard's interior design with a variety of trees and plantings, as well as a unique water feature.
Foster + Partners worked with the Smithsonian to create an innovative enclosure for the 28,000-square-foot space at the center of the building that was sensitive to the historic structure and yet added a modern element to the building. The light-filled Kogod Courtyard will become a major gathering place in the nation's capital. It will be a welcoming space downtown, as well as a public venue for the museums' performances, lectures and special events. The Courtyard Café will offer casual dining during public museum hours (11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
A free opening-day festival, featuring interactive art-making activities and performances in the courtyard, is planned for Nov. 18, from noon to 6 p.m. The Friends and Family Festival is sponsored by Target.
"This courtyard is a gift to the entire nation, as well as the nation's capital," said Cristián Samper, Acting Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. "It will enable the Smithsonian to expand its services to all visitors by creating a uniquely beautiful location for exciting events, special programs and quiet contemplation. We could not be more grateful to Robert and Arlene Kogod for their generosity and vision that made this beautiful courtyard possible."
"It has been a privilege to work on a project with such cultural importance and historical sensitivity to Washington," said Norman Foster of Foster + Partners. "The design for the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard is driven by a deep respect for the Old Patent Office Building, reinforcing the character of the existing building without competing with it. Floating above the courtyard, the canopy catches the light, creating a new heart at the center of this landmark in the nation's capital."
"The landscape design of the courtyard celebrates the past and the future of this extraordinary building," said Gustafson. "The water scrim, which traverses the length of the courtyard, reflects the historic fabric of the walls and the glass canopy above. It will fill the space with movement."
In 2004, following an international competition, the Smithsonian announced that a panel of jurors had selected the designs of London-based architects Foster + Partners. Twenty-seven firms were invited to submit preliminary proposals, and then seven finalists were asked for concepts, which included 3-D models and narrative descriptions. Foster + Partners have designed numerous innovative and award-winning projects, such as the Great Court at the British Museum in London and the Reichstag, the New German Parliament in Berlin. The firm's most recent project in the United States is the Hearst Tower in New York City.
The roof structure is composed of three interconnected vaults that flow into one another through softly curved valleys. The double-glazed panels are set in a grid and clad in acoustic material, which together form a rigid shell that is supported by eight columns located around the perimeter of the courtyard. These steel columns support the glass-and-steel canopy on a foundation system independent of the historic building. Also, the roof is slightly raised above the walls of the existing building, preventing any weight from bearing on the historic courtyard walls.
The courtyard, which can be viewed from the museums' galleries, will accommodate a lively array of activities, including art-making programs, children's activities, concerts and performances. -- www.si.edu
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