The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s preeminent museum and research complex. The Museum is dedicated to inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning about the natural world through its unparalleled research, collections, exhibitions, and education outreach programs. Opened in 1910, the green-domed museum on the Mall was among the first of the Smithsonian buildings constructed exclusively to house the national collections and research facilities.

For our client, Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners, VDA provided services in Fall 2006 to evaluate the existing condition of 32 passenger and freight elevators and provide recommended upgrades to be implemented as part of a Master Plan over the next 10 years.

Implementation of the plan's Priorities 1, 2 and 3 is currently underway and involves full modernization of four (4) geared passenger elevators and 6 hydraulic and geared freight elevators, as well as a cab renovation on two (2) passenger cars that had received a control modernization in 2000. 

Project Details