International Spy Museum

Overview

Located at L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, D.C., the International Spy Museum houses a world-renowned collection of spy artefacts and is the only public museum in the U.S. dedicated to the tradecraft, history and contemporary role of espionage. Designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners in collaboration with Hickok Cole, the design behind its façade of corrugated metal panels, sloped columns and a pleated glass veil reflects the museum’s espionage-related themes of secrets revealed and hiding in plain sight.

We provided structural design and façade consulting services for a suspended glass and steel veil at the 140,000-square-foot museum. The building’s façade is a complex element and comprises a three-story, folded-plate-glass veil consisting of fixed glass vision panels. The unique building significantly expands exhibit and educational space for the museum and is designed to meet LEED Certification standards.

Highlights

• To eliminate the need for vertical framing, the heat-strengthened laminated glass panels have two side-supports at the top and bottom and are further supplemented by structural silicone joints.
• All exposed tension rods, forks, spades, structural steel and fittings are painted steel with hardware and accessories in stainless steel.