BGuthrie Photos: DC -- Natl Building Museum -- Exhibit: Visitor Center

DC -- Natl Building Museum -- Exhibit: Visitor Center:

Bruce Guthrie Photos Home Page: [Click here] to go to Bruce Guthrie Photos home page.

Description of Pictures: VISITOR CENTER
Ongoing
Tickets, information about upcoming programs, and a wall-size display of objects from our collection. In the rooms that follow, learn how we shape our world, and the large and small ways it shapes us.

Recognize anyone? If you recognize specific folks (or other stuff) and I haven't labeled them, please identify them for the world. Click the little pencil icon

underneath the file name (just above the picture). Spammers need not apply.

Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks including AI scrapers can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.

Accessing as Spider: The system has identified your IP as being a spider.
IP Address: 18.224.53.202 -- Domain: Amazon Technologies
I love well-behaved spiders! They are, in fact, how most people find my site. Unfortunately, my network has a limited bandwidth and pictures take up bandwidth. Spiders ask for lots and lots of pages and chew up lots and lots of bandwidth which slows things down considerably for regular folk. To counter this, you'll see all the text on the page but the images are being suppressed. Also, some system options like merges are being blocked for you.
Note: Permission is NOT granted for spiders, robots, etc to use the site for AI-generation purposes. I'm sure you're thrilled by your ability to make revenue from my work but there's nothing in that for my human users or for me.
If you are in fact human, please email me at guthrie.bruce@gmail.com and I can check if your designation was made in error. Given your number of hits, that's unlikely but what the hell.

Help? The Medium (Email) links are for screen viewing and emailing. You'll want bigger sizes for printing. [Click here for additional help]

Share: Facebook Twitter Digg
[1] NBMVC_210701_007.JPG	[2] NBMVC_210701_012.JPG	[3] NBMVC_210701_015.JPG
[4] NBMVC_210701_021.JPG	[5] NBMVC_210701_024.JPG	[6] NBMVC_210701_027.JPG
[7] NBMVC_210701_030.JPG	[8] NBMVC_210701_032.JPG	[9] NBMVC_210701_037.JPG
[10] NBMVC_210701_041.JPG	[11] NBMVC_210701_045.JPG	[12] NBMVC_210701_048.JPG
[13] NBMVC_210701_050.JPG	[14] NBMVC_210701_052.JPG	[15] NBMVC_210701_054.JPG
[16] NBMVC_210701_056.JPG	[17] NBMVC_210701_058.JPG	[18] NBMVC_210701_061.JPG
[19] NBMVC_210701_065.JPG	[20] NBMVC_210701_066.JPG	[21] NBMVC_210701_069.JPG
[22] NBMVC_210701_071.JPG	[23] NBMVC_210701_075.JPG	[24] NBMVC_210701_078.JPG
[25] NBMVC_210701_080.JPG	[26] NBMVC_210701_082.JPG	[27] NBMVC_210701_086.JPG
[28] NBMVC_210701_088.JPG	[29] NBMVC_210701_090.JPG	[30] NBMVC_210701_093.JPG
[31] NBMVC_210701_096.JPG	[32] NBMVC_210701_098.JPG	[33] NBMVC_210701_100.JPG
[34] NBMVC_210701_102.JPG	[35] NBMVC_210701_104.JPG

Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. NBMVC_210701_015.JPG: The National Building Museum inspires curiosity about the world we design and build. Buildings have power. They can evoke a range of human emotions. They take our breath away, stop us cold in our tracks, connect us to past cultures, ideals, or higher powers. Buildings may create problems, but they can also solve them. Not only can they change lives-they can save them. Who builds, and what, where, when, why, how, and for whom we build truly matter. This belief grounds all of the National Building Museum's exhibitions and programs. Why? Because our quality of life is directly affected by how buildings, structures, infrastructure and built landscapes relate to each other, to us, and to the natural world. Often, our ability to thrive and our society's capacity to flourish -- directly depends on those relationships and interconnections. So too does how you and I, and all those around us -- governments, businesses, and non-profits -- use and steward both our built and natural resources. Instead of thinking of the built environment as a stage or backdrop, the Museum thinks of it more as a complex character that has the power to shape our lives, our communities, and our futures. Building, after all, is a creative act, and our built world is a cultural artifact. It is a reflection of who we are and what we believe. Sometimes those narratives are difficult to understand or accept. The National Building Museum strives to share the most relevant, compelling, and inspirational of these stories.
2. NBMVC_210701_021.JPG: THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT The National Building Museum provides more than an opportunity to explore buildings, their construction, or even their significance. Our subject is the built environment writ large: the broad range of places and spaces people create to support human activity-from simple structures to vast metropolises. That focus includes the individuals, transformative ideas, and technologies that continually reshape the places we inhabit.
3. NBMVC_210701_024.JPG: EVERYDAY We tend to stop noticing the spaces we inhabit day in and day out, especially the places we live, work, and play. But understanding and appreciating how these spaces affect us-and how we can alter them-gives us more control over our environment.
4. NBMVC_210701_027.JPG: EXTRAORDINARY By virtue of their design, some places are extraordinary; they make us feel or experience things differently. They can be singular, such as a monument, museum, or memorial-or surprising, offering an unconventional twist on the familiar. Far more than a parking garage, this structure affords spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica from its upper levels, while a caf�, shops, and garden on the main terrace animate the pedestrian traffic flow. Powered by rooftop solar panels, it was the first such structure to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Santa Monica Civic Center Parking Structure, 2008. Santa Monica, California Architect: Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners Architect of Record/Structural Engineer. International Parking Design John Linden. Featured in the exhibition, House of Cars: Innovation and the Parking Garage (2009-2010)
5. NBMVC_210701_030.JPG: OVERLOOKED Investigating the neglected, overlooked, and undervalued builds empathy and provides us with a more accurate understanding of the connections between people and place. This entire block, save the church (formerly St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church), was razed three years after this photograph was taken. Saint Matthew of the Highway Church of Christ of the Apostolic Faith, 2004. Looking north on 7th Street towards Florence Street, Camden, New Jersey Camilo Jos� Vergara. Featured in the exhibition, Storefront Churches: Photographs by Camilo Jos� Vergara (2009)
6. NBMVC_210701_041.JPG: We spend close to 90% of our lives inside The Great Indoors
7. NBMVC_210701_045.JPG: INFRASTRUCTURE ...Bridges. Tunnels. Roads. Railways. Airports and Sea ports. Locks. Levees. Dams. Power grids and Pipelines. Reservoirs. Water treatment plants. Sewers. Storm drains. Antennas. Cell phone towers. Satellites... Infrastructure moves people and goods-as well as water, electricity, fuel, and information. These engineered facilities, systems, and networks are indispensable to modern life, making their integrity, security, and safety paramount. Whether owned and operated by government entities or private enterprise, "public works" require vigilant oversight, maintenance, and reinvestment.
8. NBMVC_210701_048.JPG: America's Infrastructure Grade C- The American Society of Civil Engineers began assessing the nation's infrastructure in 1998 and continues to issue reports and recommendations for how to improve the condition of more than a dozen sectors. The overall grade is a C-.
9. NBMVC_210701_050.JPG: The City
10. NBMVC_210701_052.JPG: Nearly 80% of the country's 330 million people live in urban or suburban areas
11. NBMVC_210701_054.JPG: Global Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions by Sector 11% Building Materials & Construction 28% Building Operations 32% Industry 23% Transportation 6% Other
12. NBMVC_210701_056.JPG: GLOBAL IMPACTS Buildings generate the largest share of both U.S. and global greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions flow from the construction process itself, beginning with the production and transport of materials to building sites. Operational emissions are generated by burning fossil fuels for heating, cooling, cooking, and electricity. To reduce energy use, the architecture and building industry is focused on efficiency and the eventual phase-out of carbon emissions.
13. NBMVC_210701_058.JPG: Pollution Snapshot: Comparing Material Manufacturing Manufacturing... Timber Timber manufacturing uses less fossil fuel than steel or concrete manufacturing, causing less air and water pollution. Concrete Cement is the main ingredient in concrete. Its production is one of the most energy-intensive industrial processes. Steel Although steel is widely recycled. manufacturing steel is energy-intensive and uses mostly non-renewable resources.
14. NBMVC_210701_061.JPG: THE PUBLIC REALM Urban design directly impacts our interactions in the public realm-with profound implications for everything from personal safety to economic vitality. Whether we linger or rush through a space, for example, depends on how we perceive it. Is there room to gather or walk with others? Are there comfortable places to rest? Interesting views? After having prioritized the automobile, communities are now looking to rebalance the relationship between meeting place, marketplace, and traffic space.
15. NBMVC_210701_065.JPG: SUBURBAN The public realm is outside the front door, in and on the streets, alleyways, and sidewalks of our neighborhoods- suburban, urban, or rural.
16. NBMVC_210701_066.JPG: URBAN Public space is considered a key component of livability. Cities that excel in this area create universally accessible places for pedestrians, from parks and memorials to transit hubs and shopping districts.
17. NBMVC_210701_069.JPG: DESTINATION A form of the public realm exists in places that are not freely accessible, but rather require some type of entrance fee. Nonetheless, these destinations bring together large crowds for shared experiences.
18. NBMVC_210701_071.JPG: "Great public space is a kind of magical good. It never ceases to yield happiness. It is almost happiness itself." -- Enrique Penalosa, Former mayor of Bogota, Colombia
19. NBMVC_210701_075.JPG: "I think the danger of landscape is that people stop seeing it. That's why they don't realize that it's everywhere. I try to design so that through the seasons, through the sculptural transformations, from night to day, you see something new and you are rewarded for being there 900, or 1,000 times a year." -- Mikyoung Kim, FASLA, founder of Mikyoung Kim Design and Professor Emerita at the Rhode Island School of Design.
20. NBMVC_210701_078.JPG: CONTRIBUTING TO COMMUNITY Individual actions shape our neighborhoods and broader communities. The examples can be impressive and empowering, from saving landmarks, rerouting freeways, and delaying or down-sizing development, to refurbishing playgrounds, establishing community gardens, and launching community development corporations. Whether through invited feedback and participation, by protests and direct public pressure, or the passage of rules and regulations by elected officials, each of us can affect the built environment.
21. NBMVC_210701_080.JPG: New downtown commercial development costs 2.5X more than rehabilitating an older building
22. NBMVC_210701_082.JPG: ADAPTIVE REUSE Adaptive reuse is becoming a more attractive alternative to new construction for two main reasons: not only is it more sustainable for the environment, but it's typically less expensive, especially in urban areas.
23. NBMVC_210701_086.JPG: RESTORATION Since the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act in 1966, communities have come to realize that preserving and restoring their heritage can have positive cultural and economic benefits.
24. NBMVC_210701_088.JPG: DISUSE & DECLINE Like instruments are meant to be played, buildings are designed to be used. Once their initial purpose is gone, a structure's final outcome may depend more on the value of its location than its design or construction.
25. NBMVC_210701_090.JPG: WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN Drawings are ideas-but only a fraction of them are ever built. Whether a designer has been invited to submit a proposal or has opted to participate in an open competition, they often develop multiple concepts before they are hired for a job.
26. NBMVC_210701_093.JPG: THE LIFE OF A BUILDING Buildings are often taken for granted. We see them as anchors, permanent fixtures in our lives. But the built environment is shaped by individual choices and mutual decisions. It is not inevitable, predictable, or immutable. Like people, structures have a lifespan. Some succumb to the forces of nature, others become outmoded, unfashionable, or fall into disrepair. We can mourn their loss and recall the memories they held for us. Still others live on, lovingly restored, renovated, or adapted for reuse.
27. NBMVC_210701_096.JPG: ON THE JOB Designers are dreamers: they specialize in possibilities and imagination. And once a project is complete, they garner the lion's share of the credit. But dozens of allied experts, problem solvers, and decision makers-from soil consultants and mechanical engineers to building inspectors and painting contractors are vital contributors to any project. If design is the soul of a building, the trades and building professionals are the heart.
28. NBMVC_210701_098.JPG: DESIGN Whether designing a chair or a building, Eero Saarinen (shown left) was known for constructing large models and mock-ups which underwent constant revision and refinement as part of his creative process. His prot�g� and successor, Kevin Roche (shown right), continued the practice. Architects Eero Saarinen, FAIA (1910-1961), and Kevin Roche, FAIA (1922-2019), working on a model for the TWA Terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, c. 1958. Offices of Eero Saarinen and Associates, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Courtesy Eero Saarinen Collection; Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library. Featured in the exhibition. Kevin Roche: Architecture as Environment (2012) BUILD Steel worker locking in a beam during construction of Park Tower at Transbay, 2017. San Francisco, California Harry Griffin. Clark Construction Photographer-in-Residence 2017-2019. Courtesy Clark Construction Group, LLC
29. NBMVC_210701_100.JPG: MAINTAIN Several tons of fallen stone littered the grounds of Washington National Cathedral in the aftermath of the Virginia earthquake. Officials at the Cathedral turned to the specialty engineering firm, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. -- renowned for the unique skill set of its Difficult Access Team-to assess, stabilize, and recommend a long-term repair plan.
30. NBMVC_210701_102.JPG: 116K Architects licensed to practice in the US 3M+ Skilled craft professionals represented by North America's Building Trades Union (NABTU).
Bigger photos? To save server space, the full-sized versions of these images have either not been loaded to the server or have been removed from the server. (Only some pages are loaded with full-sized images and those usually get removed after three months.) I still have them though. If you want me to email them to you, please send an email to guthrie.bruce@gmail.com and I can email them to you, or, depending on the number of images, just repost the page again will the full-sized images.
Connection Not Secure messages? Those warnings you get from your browser about this site not having secure connections worry some people. This means this site does not have SSL installed (the link is http:, not https:). That's bad if you're entering credit card numbers, passwords, or other personal information. But this site doesn't collect any personal information so SSL is not necessary. Life's good!
Photo Contact: [Email Bruce Guthrie].