May 9, 2007
What To Do With the Arts and Industries Building?
The Smithsonian Institution is searching for a public or private partner to redevelop and rent the historic Arts and Industries Building, since, according to the Smithsonian's facilities director, William W. Brubaker, the Institution "does not have funding now or in the foreseeable future to rehabilitate" it. The 126-year-old building, the second-oldest next to the Smithsonian Castle, has been closed for three years "in preparation for renovation" since the roof began collapsing -- but no work has been done.
Like much of the news about the foreseeable future at SI these days, this is a little depressing. Originally the National Museum Building, the structure has had a history of playing home to some of the Smithsonian's most important collections, only to have them be moved to newer buildings -- the remaining Arts and Industries Collection was actually moved to the Museum of History and Technology (now the National Museum of American History) in 1964, and since then the building has been the home of special, temporary exhibitions until it closed for good three years ago. Concerned about its future, the National Trust for Historic Preservation last year named it one of America's Most Endangered Places.
The good news is that even though the Smithsonian is looking for someone from the outside to step in to save the building, it's unlikely it would become anything truly offensive (like say, a CVS). Currently the Institution is putting out a request for qualifications, or a general call to see who might be interested, and those proposals will need to "be consistent with the mission of the Institution." Possible tenants being mentioned at this early stage include the National Children's Museum or a new National Latino Museum, though neither have submitted formal proposals.
What would you like to see done with the historic space? Are there any wealthy, private institutions you can imagine wanting to make the Arts and Industries Building their home?
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National Children's Museum...absolutely.
"according to one person in the congressional briefing, "no hotel, no bed-and-breakfast, no Gap, but something compatible with the rest of the Smithsonian.""
Then in the next paragraph: "It would consider a combination of stores, commercial offices, and exhibition and conference space."
"Then in the next paragraph: "It would consider a combination of stores, commercial offices, and exhibition and conference space."
So it would be practically the American Indian Museum then? Whatever comes next, lets hope that it doesn't turn out like that museum.
Sports museum. Get ESPN to underwrite it.
This is a bit beside the point, but where did you find that photo? It's fantastic -- I love the light and sharp detail.
Smithsonian officials pledged that any partnership would "be consistent with the mission of the Institution." That means, according to one person in the congressional briefing, "no hotel, no bed-and-breakfast, no Gap, but something compatible with the rest of the Smithsonian."
Well, seeing as the Smithsonian is the premier repository for our Nation's treasured relics, I say they go upscale retirement condo with boutique dining downstairs. Two things DC folks never get tired of: condos and tapas places. I think "The Lofts at the Smithsonian" has a nice ring to it. And a charcuterie-peddling bistro in the lobby seals the deal!
And don't think Doug Jemal hasn't already peddled this proposal. He's on a roll, baby!
National Children's Museum was slated to be built in L’Enfant Plaza.... (Appropriately named location) and they were going to build their own fancy building designed by architect César Pelli. Location was going to be between the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel and Postal HQ. It was supposed to open 2008, now the website says 2009. Around 2005 the L’Enfant Plaza mall started end leases for tenants. However the development seems to be in limbo ever since.
Roller derby and/or the museum of roller derby. Glove, meet hand.
Call me a deluded radical, but how about use it as a museum? Last time I looked there were about 174 organizations trying to cram their pet-issue museum onto the Mall. Pick the one who's program reuses the building best, i.e. preserves it.
national museum of sock puppets
How about the site of the strip clubs that Jim Graham wants to have re-locate in Ward 5?
Dave and Buster's?
New Eastern Market.
I'm w/ptf. However, it should be the new Central Market.
HOUSE OF PAIN! HOUSE OF PAIN!
or a torture museum, don't they have one of those in London or sompin?
That's SI's standard press photo for the building. It's courtesy the Smithsonian Institution.
New market is an interesting idea, except the site isn't near any residences. Plus, the people complaining about the estimated $30 million for Eastern Market rebuild would certainly have an issue with the $55+ million renovation.
I think Monkeyrotica should buy it and re-open it as Plato's Retreat DC.
Two words: pay toilets.
ONLY A FEW UNITS LEFT! Charming fixer-upper gay bathhouse with an upscale organic market in the lobby adjacent to the New Army Medical Museum (complete with elephantitis infected genitals and Dillinger's pickled wang) with luxury loft condos and a 30% affordable housing setaside that will be whittled down to 2% by construction time. Just minutes from Metro! Ask about our complimentary glory hole installation! Talk about "mixed use!"
I know it was rejected already, but wouldn't it make a lot more sense to put the African American History Museum in here? I know the supporters want a whole new building, but in the interest of preserving open space on the mall, I think reusing an existing, and quite beautiful, building would be better.
What is the status of that museum anyway? I know a commission recommended the space west of the American History museum, but I don't remember it becoming official.
Planet Hollywood - tourists won't have to venture off the Mall and locals can load up on Cap'n Crunch chicken fingers whenever they'd like.
Luke and RJ: For many years, the so-called National Children's Museum survived through a constant stream of congressional earmarks and the sheer gall of a charismatic founder. The content was horrible; the execution worse. Now that NCM has a distinguished group of advisors, it may have sold its old property too cheaply and be unable to get what is laughingly called a "public-private partnership" deal in the current environment. If NCM won't settle for a temporary home soon, in DC or the 'burbs, it will probably just peter out. No one has missed it, since virtually all DC museums have programs for kids.
here's what'll happen: they'll talk about it forever, let it rot, and then it'll either cave in (a la O street market) or burn down (a la Eastern Market). i swear to god, people in this town can never just DO something good, damnit. debate is good, talk is good, but action, for chrissakes! if you lose the building, all of the debate/discussion in the universe goes for naught.
What's the source for that picture?
I have to chime in on that gorgeous photo as well. Looks like a great example of how HDR can be used tastefully: www.flickr.com/groups/hdr/
Google is your friend:
newsdesk.si.edu/images_full/images/buildings/general/arts_industries.jpg
(image search for Arts and Industries Building, 3rd row)
Mike it was called the Capital Children's Museum before it closed. National Children's Museum is its new name in exile.
I disagree that a normal museum with a children's program is as good as a children's museum. For instance, I do not think the Boston Children's Museum could be replaced by a children's program at the MFA. The Capital Children's Museum may not have been as great as the Boston one, but I certainly still have fond memories of the place.
Although poking around its old rooms (especially the creepy kitchens) during Artomatic 2004 was quite strange. It truly kept the feeling of a convent despite decades as a museum.
I'm with Reid. Growing up here, we spent a lot of time at the Children's museum. I remember some exhibits very well to this day. Children's programs at other museums are not the same as getting to play in a room with big "simple machines" and really learning how they work. Sorry.
The National Health Museum would be good as well for that space. They've been looking down near the Mall for more than a decade. (Google them for more info.)
What with Eastern Market and now this, this sure is a bad time for Cluss buildings. Now if they could just hurry and up and decide what to do with my favorite Cluss structure, the Franklin School (on Franklin Square downtown) instead of letting it deteriorate further.
Mike,
I spent time there as a child and now that I have two young kids, I find it offensive that we don't have a decent place to take them that is at least comprable to the H Street CCM. The NCM needs to get done for a variety of reasons...the sooner the better.
And AL was a charismatic leader??????
I thought the Franklin School was being turned in to condos, or did that deal fall through?
Too bad Mitch Snyder isn't around. He'd have a hunger strike to turn the Smithsonian into a homeless shelter.
Yellowliner, last I heard the homeless industrial complex got the city to abandon their plans to rent the Franklin School out as a hotel. In fact, they got the city to promise to invest more money into it as shelter.
I believe there were some statements that this wasn't a permanent plan for the building, but it seems like it will remain a shelter for the foreseeable future.
A center for the building arts, obviously.
with inspiration from the building arts expo at a folklife festival some years back, the SI could institute, along with their decorative arts programs a school, technical institute and demonstration area for the building and architectural decoration arts.
As much sense as it would make for a Smithsonian museum to go in there--Af. American History museum, Latino museum, etc.--it's not going to happen. The reason they're looking for private money is they don't have the money now or the desire/ability to raise it in the next few years to repair the building. Would it be cheaper than new buildings? Quite likely. More logical? Of course. As usual, though, they're looking for a short-term solution.
Since this building was our very first national museum, though, I'd hate to see anything but a museum come in. That we can't get the government to fix it up for the Smithsonian's use is a sad commentary on our society's priorities.
Maybe this is similar to the children's museum, but I'm thinking of the Please Touch Museum in Philly. Educational and fun at the same time for kids and adults! And please, no off color jokes about children and the please touch philosophy.
But CG, if they can't raise money to fix up the building, how are they going to raise money to build a new building?
Personally I don't care for putting ethno-centric museums on the mall. I don't think they have a place on the mall for the exact reason that each ethnicity wants to be there (particularly if they're all going to turn out as awful as the NMAI). But as long as we're going to have them, we might as well use extant buildings.
Would be nice if part of it could be a decent cafe with outdoor space, maybe open into the evening, and with music. Hell, a non-tourist or two might even visit the Mall!