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Cultural Institution- Award of Merit
National Museum of the American
Indian
Washington, D.C.
 The
unique design of the National Museum of the American Indian
project required building methods typically unmatched in their
complexity.
Intricate geometry and undulating walls presented numerous
challenges for the joint-venture general contracting team
of Clark Construction Group of Bethesda, Md., and Table Mountain
Rancheria Enterprises of Friant, Calif.
Sited prominently on the National Mall between the Air and
Space Museum and the U.S Capitol, the museum serves as a centerpiece
venue for ceremonies and presentations as well as a primary
exhibition space for Indian arts, histories and cultures.
The curvilinear structure is constructed of Kasota stone
(a form of limestone found only in Minnesota) and a buff-colored
limestone, reminiscent of natural rock sculpted over time
by sand and water. The heart of the venue is the 115- by 121-ft.
domed "Potomac" space, a gathering place where native
cultures are celebrated.
An oculus in the dome provides views to the sky and allows
a natural stream of light in, tracing the path of the sun
and creating a solar calendar. A sculptural copper screen
lines the path to the entrance of the Potomac, dropping in
height to reveal activities throughout the museum.
In addition to exhibit areas, the museum includes two theaters,
an outdoor performance area, café, resource center
and museum shops.
The involvement of dozens of American Indians throughout
the Western Hemisphere helped shape the museum's design. Artists,
architects, botanists and other consultants provided valuable
input that helped create a unique venue that represents and
honors the Native American culture.
One of the most complicated aspects of the job was the formwork.
Clark Concrete, a subsidiary of Clark Construction Group,
self-performed 100 percent of the concrete work during the
27-month contract period.
"[This project] is remarkably different in its design,
which created incredible construction challenges," one
judge said. It was "a job well done by the entire team."
The site involves six footprints, undulating perimeter walls,
real boulders and constructed water features, and a 45-meter
entrance overhang reminiscent of cliff dwellings. The museum
is designed to resist seismic and wind loads, primarily by
transferring loads to the shear walls of the stair and elevator
cores.
No two floors use the same geometric layout, and the design
contains many compound curves and changing radii throughout
the building. Within the building, there are more than 1,000
curves and little repetition, which means Clark Concrete never
performed the same activity two days in a row.
Additionally, the elevated structural slabs were designed
and installed with camber to accommodate slab deflections,
resulting in flat and level floors.
To undertake the construction of such a detailed facility,
Clark Concrete used several different formwork systems. Because
the foundation walls are curved with no repetitive radii,
a flexible, adjustable European formwork system was used.
The complex geometry of the perimeter walls required that
most of the perimeter columns offset one another at each floor,
resulting in striking cantilevers and transfer girders on
otherwise straightforward floors.
Located on four acres, the museum is surrounded by landscaping
that seeks to replicate the area's original topography. Re-created
wetlands, meadowlands and a hardwood forest are reminiscent
of the marshy tidal waterway that defined the area before
recent-day efforts transformed the National Mall into a drier,
open space.
Owner: Smithsonian Institution
Architect: "SmithGroup,
Polshek Parntership, Jones & Jones"
General Contractor: Clark/TMR
a Joint Venture
Millwork: International Woodwork
Company
Electrical: Truland Systems
Corporation
Concrete: Clark Concrete
Drywall: Cleveland Construction
Ornamental Metal: A. Zahner
Co.
Mechanical: Pierce Associates
Stone: GA Masonry
Curtainwall: PCC Inc.
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