As part of a major renewal, Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum sought to create engaging new gallery experiences around its aviation and spaceflight collections. The challenge was to accommodate significant artifacts and immersive exhibits within existing spaces while preserving the museum's stringent safety, security, conservation, and aesthetic standards.

Arup enhanced the museum's exhibition spaces through structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering services, alongside fire and security expertise. Our engineers delivered design solutions for specialty exhibit structures and lighting support systems that worked around existing building services while maintaining the design vision for each gallery. We also integrated exhibit infrastructure and coordinated closely with the exhibit fabricator to maintain access to critical building services.

The renewed galleries create immersive experiences that connect visitors with the history of flight and space exploration while protecting artifacts that continue to inspire future generations of explorers, engineers, and scientists.

Engineering the exhibition galleries to meet modern museum standards

Arup designed custom exhibit structures for artifacts significant to the history of air and space travel. The team coordinated exhibit installations with existing building systems and integrated life safety, security, and operational requirements throughout the galleries. Using digital modelling, our engineers helped ensure the exhibits were safely and seamlessly incorporated within the museum environment.

In the U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe, Arup used 3D modelling to visualize and coordinate the support framing for hundreds of ceiling-mounted lights arranged in a spiral pattern. The team optimized the support system to simplify construction and coordination with surrounding building systems while maintaining the exhibit's immersive design intent.

Space science artifacts including shuttles, rockets, and satellites hang from a system of exposed steel mounts in a room lit from light coming through a large window.

The showcase gallery RTX Living in the Space Age Hall uses an Arup-designed custom exhibit structure to suspend large artifacts like shuttles and satellites in a space-themed orbital arrangement. © Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, Mark Avino

Detailed ceiling light system made from hanging rods in a spiral shape in a dark exhibit.

Hundreds of ceiling mounted lights arranged in a spiral pattern welcome visitors at the entrance of the U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe exhibit. © Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, Michael Persaud 

Header image: RTX Living in the Space Age Hall © Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, Mark Avino 

Partners & collaborators

Design and Production Incorporated (D&P) / Reich & Petch Design / Abernathy Lighting Design / Phase Shift Consulting