When President Obama gives the groundbreaking speech for a new project, it’s bound to be an important building. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is located on Constitution Avenue, adjacent to the National Museum of American History and the Washington Monument, and is slated to open on September 24, 2016.
The building is an important landmark for the nation, and is built on the last available spot on the National Mall in Washington D.C. To ensure the success of this prominent project, many partners were called together to work collaboratively during the design and construction phases; each brought a different expertise to the project. Three American architecture firms, The Freelon Group, architect of record and design team leader (and now part of global design firm Perkins+Will), Davis Brody Bond, with extensive experience in museum projects, and the local D.C.-based firm SmithGroup, joined forces. David Adjaye, lead designer of London-based Adjaye Associates, was the last to join and brought an international design element to the project. Together, they formed a group named ”Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup” (FABS) and worked cohesively to create a world-renowned museum that would accurately tell the story of the African American experience.