Smithsonian Initiates Patent Office Building Renovation

The Smithsonian Institution has awarded Hensel Phelps Construction of Greeley, Colo., the $22-million contract for the first phase of the Patent Office Building renovation project. Construction on the Patent Office Building, which houses the American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, began in May 2003. The project includes demolition and installation of underground utilities. The second phase will bring the facility into accessibility and fire compliance and will add energy-efficient electrical, mechanical, telecommunications, and security systems. The cost of the entire Patent Office Renovation project, including design, infrastructure, construction, collections and art storage, move-in, and start up is projected at $216 million. The facility is slated to reopen July 4, 2006 with new features including an underground 346-seat auditorium, an art storage area and conservation lab visible to the public, a café, and a shared museum store.