National Museum of American Diplomacy

To maintain operations in the building throughout construction, BBB collaborated closely with Department of State security and staff to design a new entrance sequence, reset the secure “hard line,” and integrate security screening for visitors and staff without compromising public safety. BBB designed a phased approach to construction and collaborated with the general contractor to screen construction activity with interpretive materials. Further, the limited area of the forecourt and surrounding open space amplified the need for pre-planning coordination of both construction workers and building employees for entry and exit through this confined area each day. Work hours were closely monitored, and active noise and vibration activities took place at off hours.

Along with the Berlin Wall fragment, another significant artifact is a replica of Lichtenstein’s Greene Street Mural, donated to the museum by the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) and the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation. BBB helped to mount it over the inscription “War Department”—the building’s original tenant—to symbolize the superiority of diplomacy and the arts over armed conflict.