The Smithsonian Institution will open the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport in December 2003. Contractor Hensel Phelps Construction of Greeley, Colo., began building the $309-million, 760,000-sf facility in June 2001. The facility will house 80% of the National Air and Space Museum collection not displayed at the National Mall location.
Located on 176 acres, the Dulles project will include an air traffic observation tower, exhibit hangars, collections storage, archives, classrooms, a large-format theater, retail, and dining. Over 200 aircraft will be on display at the museum, which will accommodate three to four million visitors annually. A space hangar featuring over 135 space vehicles, including the space shuttle Enterprise, is included in the project.
