Hirshhorn Museum Sculpture Garden National Mall, Washington, D.C.

To create universal accessibility, entrances from the National Mall and Jefferson Drive will be widened, contributing to a more welcoming entry sequence into the Museum’s grounds. As part of the construction, an existing underground passage from the museum plaza to the garden will reopen after a 50-year closure, relinking this project with the larger museum campus.

A redesigned and enlarged central reflecting pool allows for quiet contemplation and provides cooling in the hot summer months. When drained, the pool’s stepped floor can be turned into an amphitheater for performances. The new vision will create added opportunities for large-scale contemporary sculptures and installations, as well as more intimate spaces for the museum’s existing modern masterpieces. The revitalized garden is scheduled to reopen in fall of 2026.