Page 20 - Spring_2018

ArchDC Spring 2018.qxp_Fall 2017 2/22/18 9:11 AM Page 18

The Museum of the Bible, showing
the renovated historic warehouse
and new rooftop addition.

Historic photo of Courtesy of SmithGroupJJR
the warehouse.

A DC Museum of
A DC Museum of

Biblical Proportions
Biblical Proportions

Photo © Alan Karchmer Architectural Photographer
Warehouse Renovation Retains
Hints of Industrial Past by Deane Madsen, Assoc. AIA

The Museum of the Bible made a grand entrance to the
Project: Museum of the Bible, 400 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC
capital region with its November 2017 opening. Housed
in a renovated cold-storage warehouse, the museum Architects/Engineers/Interior Architects/Lighting Designers: SmithGroupJJR
building interweaves high-tech exhibits within its historic Artists: Larry Kirkland with Wood Ronsaville Harlin
framework. Billed as a non-sectarian celebration of one of Exhibition Designers: The PRD Group LTD; BRC Imagination Arts; Jonathan Martin
Creative; C&G Partners LLC; Technomedia; DymoRides
the oldest texts in the world, the museum aims to inspire
Theater Designers: Theatre Consultants Collaborative, Inc.
deeper readings of its focal book through a wide array of Landscape Architects: Michael Vergason Landscape Architecture, Ltd.
historical editions and contemporary interpretations in a Structural Engineers: Tadjer-Cohen-Edelson Associates; Thornton Tomasetti/Weidlinger
building that reinforces the museum’s mission through Civil Engineers: RK&K
subtle allusions as well as text writ large. Geotechnical Engineers: Froehling & Robertson
Curtain Wall Consultants: Heintges & Associates
Visitors arriving to the Museum of the Bible must
Acoustical Consultants: Acoustic Dimensions
first pass through a pair of 16-ton, 38-foot-high milled Project Managers: HMH Capital Group; Precision Consulting
bronzed doors that are inscribed with the first two pages of Construction Managers: Clark Construction
the book of Genesis in Latin, as over-scaled interpretations
of Gutenberg Bible plates. These doors mark the west
Main entry, with bronze panels based on
18 A DC MUSEUM OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS printing plates from the Gutenberg Bible.