WASHINGTON (AP) - The Smithsonian unveiled a plan Thursday to give museums and gardens along the south side of Washington's National Mall a $2 billion face-lift, creating more welcoming entrances, improving connections between the museums and refurbishing the iconic Smithsonian Castle.
The plans would be paid for with a mix of federal and private money and implemented over 10 to 20 years. Construction won't likely start for five to seven years. At the plan's heart are improvements to the first Smithsonian building, the Smithsonian Castle, which opened in 1855. The building now houses an information center and administrative offices as well as the tomb of James Smithson, the English scientist whose half-million dollar gift got the institution started under his name.
Under the master plan, the Smithsonian Castle would get two underground levels including a cafe and store. And its entrance hall, chopped up over years, would be returned to one grand space. The building, which played a role in the 2009 movie "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," would also be retrofitted to make it more resistant to damage from earthquakes like the one that hit the region in 2011. Planning for the construction would begin in 2016, with work expected to start in 2021.
Also key to the plan, which was designed by the Copenhagen- and New York-based Bjarke Ingels Group, is improving connections between the museums in the five-block area, including spaces and buildings dedicated to African, Asian and modern art.