Smithsonian asks public for feedback on D.C. Bezos Learning Center design proposals

The Smithsonian Museum revealed five anonymous design proposals for The Bezos Learning Center in Washington, D.C., and is asking the public for their feedback. 

Described as a “world-class educational center,” the learning center will consist of a 50,000-square-foot project comprising three floors that will host exhibition spaces, a restaurant, a rooftop terrace, and a public observatory. 

"It will feature programs and activities that inspire students to pursue innovation and explore careers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) fields, and it will help teachers better utilize the Smithsonian’s collections," stated in a press release by the National Air and Space Museum.

The new wing of the Air and Space museum is part of a massive multi-year renovation that began in 2018 with a record-breaking $250 million donation from Amazon’s founder and leaders in the aerospace industry. The renovation will approximately take seven years to complete. 

The Bezos Learning Center will replace the Gyo Obata’s restaurant Pavilion, which was built in 1988 as an additional structure to the National Air and Space Museum. 

The Smithsonian revealed five anonymous proposals from architecture firms for the design of the new learning center and is now seeking the public’s review and feedback from September 6 through 19 before selecting a winning design. 

The architects behind the proposals are identified only as Firm A, Firm B, Firm C, Firm D, and Firm E.