Eager to reinvent the standard interpretation of “old and new,” BIG has agreed to take on the redesign of the Smithsonian Institution’s South Mall. In January 2018, after years of working closely with local residents and decision makers in order to come up with an exciting masterplan, the firm unveiled a set of astounding digital mock-ups outlining their vision for the campus.

Talks of this $2 billion redesign began back in 2012, but it wasn’t until this year that it was actually given the go-ahead by the National Capital Planning Commission. Even so, it’ll still probably be another 20 or 30 years before the 17-acre South Mall campus begins its redevelopment. The aim of the overhaul is to unify the museums and research centers by eradicating inefficient building systems and introducing modern spaces to create a natural flow ? as opposed to the current layout, which is said to “plague the area” and make each building seem isolated from the rest.
The site in question includes some of the Smithsonian?s oldest buildings, including a “castle” that was built in 1855, which itself will soon be restored to serve as the centerpiece of the entire redesign. BIG hopes that by rejuvenating the Castle, they will take away its cold, practical feel (it?s currently being used as an administrative center) and use it to enhance the visitor experience by focusing its development on public access.
Located in front of the Castle is the En...